Best Practices for Successful Board Meetings
Board meetings are essential to aiding in the achievement of company goals, avoiding conflict and ensuring compliance with regulatory specifications. But they will only be effective if everyone is committed to fostering a constructive dialogue. By applying these best practices you can turn your Board meetings into dynamic engines that propel your organization towards its long-term goals and goals.
The first step to running an effective board meeting is to set clear expectations and establish meeting procedures. It involves clearly defining who is responsible for each item on the agenda and making sure that all attendees have the full picture of what is expected from your meeting.
By setting and adhering time limits for each item on the agenda, you can maintain focus during the entire meeting. It also shows the attendees that their time is valuable. Consider limiting the number of items on your agenda to ensure that board members have the time to talk about each effectively. Items that are not controversial can be put to vote via a an agenda of consent to free more time for discussions of strategic issues (BoardEffect). Utilize visual tools like countdown timers and adhere to your scheduled time frames particularly when addressing sensitive topics.
Being distracted by new topics for discussion can divert attention from the main purpose of the meeting and result in unnecessarily lengthy discussions. Include an “parking area” on the agenda, to include topics that require further study or consideration but aren’t at the top of your list. Check the parking area regularly to determine what needs to be added to the agenda or researched further or delegated.
