Board meetings are essential to aiding in the achievement of company goals, avoiding conflict and ensuring compliance with the requirements of regulatory agencies. But they will only be productive if everyone is engaged and committed to encouraging constructive dialogue. Implementing these best practices will transform your Board meetings into dynamic engines that propel your organisation towards its long-term goals and vision.
The first step to run an effective board meeting is to establish clear expectations and establish a meeting protocol. It is about clearly defining who is responsible for each item on the agenda and making sure that all attendees have a full understanding of what they can expect from your meeting.
Setting and adhering to timeframes for each agenda item helps ensure that the meeting is focused throughout. It also lets attendees know that their time is important. Limit the amount of agenda items to ensure that your board members are able to debate each item in a productive manner. The items that aren’t controversial can be voted upon via a consent agenda to free up more time for discussions on strategic issues (BoardEffect). Use visual tools such as countdown timers and stick to your time frames particularly when addressing sensitive topics.
Discussions that are tangled can lead to unnecessary meetings and divert attention from meeting goals. To prevent this from happening, add the word „parking lot” on the agenda for subjects that require further research or thought, but are not at the top of the list. Make sure to regularly check the parking lot for the purpose https://thedriverprinter.com/boardvantage-portal-review/ of determining what needs to be added to the agenda, researched further or delegated.