Let’s look at the role more inclusive language can play on trustee boards.
Why does more inclusive language matter?
We use words, language, and titles on trustee boards that all too often feel exclusive, or can be offputting. We have recruitment processes that, while being open and transparent, use language and practices that can imply a vast legal and specialist knowledge is important. And then we wonder why our boards are populated by such a narrow and specific segment of the UK population.
I have talked in a previous blog (see part one and part two) about some of the trustee practices that can include or exclude people.
In this blog I want to focus on language, and how we can use it to be inclusive or exclusive.
Example terms that may be offputting
Let me give some examples of how we use language that could make being a trustee seem elite, mysterious, and only for those who know a lot.
- Fiduciary duty – possibly the worst bit of jargon that gets used.
- Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – a great way to make a committee sound intimidating.
- Nominations and Governance Committee – two more flash words and strangely nobody ever seems to talk about nominations except trustees.
- Remuneration Committee – there may even exist some emoluments committees, which would be worse, but few people say ‘my remuneration is £30,000’ when they get a new job.
- Treasurer – is there a big chest with treasure in it? Is Long John Silver counting his coins on the committee?
- Minutes – why don’t we talk about the records of a meeting?
- Matters arising – who in normal language talks about something ‘arising’?
- Chair – is the deputy to a Chair, called a stool? Why Chair (or should that be Chairman)?
Nine suggestions for more inclusive language
When it comes to language, simpler is always better. Language in common usage is always better. So let’s replace the jargon with simpler terminology. Here are my suggestions:
- Money committee or Finance committee instead of Finance, Audit and Risk or whatever wordsalad of labels your charity uses.
- People Committee, Personnel committee, or Human Resources committee, instead of ‘nominations and governance’.
- Salary Committee instead of the Remuneration Committee.
- Finance Trustee instead of Treasurer.
- People Trustee instead of Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee.
- Records of a Meeting instead of minutes of a meeting.
- Action points instead of matters arising (I tend to ban ‘matters arising’ anyway as they become an excuse for hijacking a meeting).
- And perhaps even Chief Trustee instead of Chair (to mirror Chief Executive).
- And lastly ‘Duty of Loyalty to the Charity’, and not to any individuals or their own interests, instead of Fiduciary Duty.
What ideas do you have for more inclusive language?
You may all have better ideas than mine for making language simpler, or more accessible.
Let me know what you think on [email protected].
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