How can our small CSO improve board governance without formal training?

lead a small, locally‑based CSO with a volunteer board that is passionate but has no formal experience in governance, by‑laws, or compliance. We struggle with clear roles, meeting procedures, and conflict‑avoidance, which sometimes slows decision‑making and weakens our accountability.

What simple, practical steps can we take to improve our board governance—such as clearer terms of reference, basic meeting rules, conflicts‑of‑interest policies, and internal reporting—without hiring a consultant or over‑complicating things?

It would also help to hear from other CSO owners in Trinidad and Tobago about the tools or templates (e.g., board minutes, role descriptions, conflict‑of‑interest forms) that have worked well for them in a small‑organisation context.

If you’d like, I can write two more sample questions—one on volunteer management and one on compliance with local regulations.