Best Practices for Successful Board Meetings

Meetings at the Board are essential to meeting company goals, preventing conflicts and keeping the company in line with its rules. However, they are only productive if everyone in the room is engaged and committed to fostering a constructive dialogue. Implementing these best practices can transform your Board meetings to dynamic engines that will propel your organization towards its long-term goals and vision.

The first step to running a successful board meeting is to establish clear expectations and establish meeting protocols. It involves clearly defining who is responsible for each item on the agenda, and making sure that everyone has an understanding of what is expected from your meeting.

By setting and adhering time limits for each item on the agenda, you’ll be in a position to maintain focus during the entire meeting. This shows attendees that they are valued. Think about limiting the number of items on your agenda to ensure your board members have the time to discuss each one effectively. Voting on non-controversial issues can be conducted through a consent agenda, which frees time for discussions on strategic issues. Use visual tools like countdown timers and adhere to your time frames particularly when discussing sensitive issues.

Getting sidetracked by new topics for discussion can divert attention from the main purpose of the meeting and result in unnecessarily lengthy discussions. Include click here for more info about board meetings a “parking area” on the agenda, to include topics that require further research or consideration but aren’t the top of your priority list. Always check in on the parking area to determine what should be added to the agenda, studied further or delegated.