As I work with the boards of faith-based organizations across the nation and talk to CEOs of leading ministries, I have the opportunity to learn from what they are doing right. Here are seven of the hottest ideas I've seen lately. These are all emerging best practices that your board can immediately implement to get more done in less time, hold down costs, stay informed, make better decisions, and be more effective as a board of directors.

Hot idea #1 … Go Paperless Now

If all of your board members have an email address, why spend money duplicating thick reports and shipping them by ground or air? All of your board communications can be sent exclusively through email starting today. Many board members would prefer to file and store all of their information about your ministry electronically.

How is it possible to have a board meeting with no paper? If all reports are sent ahead of time by email, board members can bring their laptop or print out copies they would like to keep at hand. A printed agenda can be replaced by a list of agenda items on a whiteboard or flipchart. Instead of handing out paper during the meeting, use PowerPoint to display any visual information or key points during presentations. Board chairs and CEOs who already use email to communicate with board members are only a short step away from going paperless. But you don't have to go overboard and strictly ban anything that uses paper and ink.

This is a no-brainer for boards that are geographically dispersed. The board of one international mission, the Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies (www.caspari.com) is located in Jerusalem and has members scattered across the US, Europe, and Israel. They rely extensively on email to send reports ahead of board meetings, correct minutes after, and communicate with each other in between. They still use handouts from time to time, but nobody wants to go back to waiting anxiously for packages to arrive by international mail before driving to the airport for the next meeting.

Boards of local churches and community-based organizations can also benefit by going paperless. The board of my church in Carol Stream, Illinois, decided to go paperless a few years ago. To the pastor's surprise, it only took about three minutes to make the decision. Every board member preferred receiving email over hard copy by mail. Board members either print what they want to have on hand during the meeting or, like me, simply bring their laptop. A photocopy machine is readily available in the next room if we need to print out something we did not receive ahead of time. Even the board secretary is paperless, recording the minutes on her laptop as we go.

James C. Galvin, president of Galvin & Associates in Winfield, IL, is an organizational consultant specializing in releasing the potential of faith-based nonprofits. Visit his website at www.galvinandassociates.com or contact him directly at jim@galvinandassociates.com.

Reprinted with permission from the Engstrom Institute; © 2009 Christian Leadership Alliance - 800.727.4CLA. Visit CLA's website to see what they offer your organization to help build leaders and enhance organizational effectiveness!