Board meetings are essential for the achievement of company goals, as well as Board Meetings Definition preventing conflicts and to ensure compliance. However, they can only be successful when everyone is able to foster an open and constructive dialogue. Implementing these best practices will transform your Board meetings to dynamic engines that will propel your organization towards its long-term goals and vision.

Setting clear expectations and meeting rules is the first step towards running a smooth board meeting. It is about clearly identifying who is responsible for each item on the agenda and ensuring that all participants have complete understanding of what to expect from your meeting.

By establishing and adhering to time limits for each item on the agenda, you’ll be able to maintain focus during the entire meeting. This helps attendees feel that they are appreciated. You might want to limit the number of items on your agenda to ensure that board members have time to discuss each item effectively. Voting on non-controversial issues can be conducted through a consent agenda, which frees the time to discuss important issues. Utilize visual tools like countdown timers to monitor your time, especially when dealing with sensitive topics.

Being distracted by the latest discussion topics can divert attention from the purpose of the meeting and lead to unnecessary discussions. To prevent this from happening, add the word “parking lot” on the agenda for subjects that require further research or thought but aren’t at the top of the list. Regularly revisit the parking area to determine what should be added to the agenda, studied further or delegated.