Meetings at the Board are essential to reaching company goals, avoiding conflicts and making sure that compliance is maintained. However, they are only productive if everyone involved is engaged and committed to fostering a constructive dialogue. Implementing these best practices will transform your Board meetings into powerful engines that will propel your organization towards its long-term goals and vision.
Setting clear expectations and meeting guidelines is the first step to running a well-run board meeting. It is important to establish who is responsible for each item on the agenda and ensure that all attendees are aware of the expectations they can face.
The process of setting and observing timeframes for each agenda item helps to maintain focus throughout the meeting. This will show attendees that they are appreciated. Limit the number of agenda items per meeting to ensure that your board members are able to discuss each item effectively. Voting on non-controversial issues can be accomplished through a consent agenda, which frees up time to discuss strategic issues. Use visual tools such as countdown timers for keeping track of your time, especially when dealing with sensitive subjects.
Distractions in discussions can result in lengthy meetings that distract from achieving goals. Include a « parking area » on the agenda, to include topics which require further investigation or consideration but aren’t the top of your priority list. Make sure to revisit the parking lot to determine what needs to be investigated further or added to the agenda or assigned as the task.