Meetings at the Board are essential to reaching company goals, avoiding conflicts and keeping the company in line with its rules. But they will only be successful if everyone is committed to maintaining an open and 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.
Establishing clear expectations and meeting protocols is the first step towards organizing a well-run board meeting. It is essential to establish the person responsible for each item on the meeting agenda and ensure that all attendees are aware of what they can expect.
Setting and adhering to timeframes for each agenda item helps maintain focus throughout the meeting. It also lets the attendees know that their time is valuable. It is a good idea to limit the number items on your agenda to ensure that board members have enough time to talk about each effectively. The items that aren’t controversial can be approved via a an agenda of consent to free more time for discussion of strategic issues (BoardEffect). Utilize 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 can detract from achieving goals. To avoid this, put the word “parking lot” on the agenda for subjects that require further research or thought, but are not at the top of the priority list. Regularly revisit the parking area to determine what should be added virtual platforms to the agenda or researched further or delegated.