Board meetings are an incredible opportunity to shape a business by bringing together brain power to navigate turbulent waters and calmer seas. If they are done right, they can profoundly change the direction of an organization. But without a clear structure and a strict discipline, a meeting can quickly become ineffective and frustrating for everyone involved.

It’s crucial to https://boardmanagers.net/ begin the meeting early by calling the meeting to order, and taking up any issues that are personal or of a purely formal nature. After ensuring that a quorum is present, move on to the next item on the agenda, and then start the main discussion. This is usually the time to discuss important organisational updates, key points of contention, and strategies that will lead your business to a future of success.

Reduce the length of meetings by encouraging officers and committee chairpersons to give brief summaries of their meetings. This allows more time to focus on strategic discussions and ensures that attendees aren’t bored or distracted by long conversations.

All relevant documents should be sent to your attendees prior to the meeting (committee and staff reports, Board packs, and any contextualising documents). This will reduce time spent during the meeting and help attendees to plan ahead. Begin the meeting by providing any clarifications or follow-up questions that come up from the pre-read material. Then, you can jump right into the most important discussions.