We’ve written a lot about the benefits an online communication portal brings to an advisory board or working group in comparison to live meetings: greater momentum, more access to members, and lower costs. In fact, a previous blog post we delved deeper into all three benefits. One benefit we haven’t yet talked about is the ability for your members to walk away when they need a break, or just have something else on their mind. In a live meeting, they can’t do that. They have to stay in the room and talk it out. Or stay in the room, and spend the time checking email or their iPhone.
Online, they can simply log off, take a breath. They can go for a walk. They can deal with whatever pressing issue is taking their attention away from what you need them to pay attention to. Then they can come back – when they are ready and able to focus entirely on the task at hand. This flexibility ultimately leads to more in-depth and well thought out perspectives and insights. And a happier advisor, who can do what needs to be done, and contribute as he or she wants to, but at a time and place that works for them.
After almost 20 years running advisory boards and working groups across the country, we’ve got many ideas to share. Email Natalie Yeadon and she’ll share some more with you.