The boardroom of the future will be a place designed to promote health and well-being of the participants. It will also be a space that encourages the use of digital technology for more efficient and effective meetings.
Furniture for meeting rooms, as an instance, should be flexible enough to allow many people to participate in the same event without sacrificing privacy or efficiency. The room must be equipped with a state-of-the-art acoustic system and high-quality sound design to ensure that both in-person and virtual attendees can be clearly heard. The space should also be able include natural light sources to help ease eye strain and headaches during meetings. According to an Harvard Business Review survey, natural light is the most sought-after office perk. It’s better than traditional and predictable options such as onsite cafeterias or fitness centers.
Other technological innovations could be useful in the boardroom such as real-time analytics and “living” management infographics which take the concept of information graphics and dashboards a step forward as well as crowdsourcing technology that can give a fresh perspective from other stakeholders. These tools can assist boards in evaluating the risks and build a stronger foundation for making decisions.
In the near future the boardroom will require more sustainability experts. Board members must be knowledgeable about the impact business activities have on the environment and biodiversity, climate change, and human rights. It is also about the introduction of new skills such as the ability to assess the impact of ESG issues on the long-term financial results.