How to Have an Effective Board Meeting

A successful board meeting is a crucial aspect of good governance. It’s the time when the Board of Directors comes together to debate and decide company-critical issues, making sure that the company is moving in the right direction. It can be difficult however, there are simple guidelines to follow that will allow you to have productive meetings and make effective decisions.

Planning ahead and sharing the agenda of the meeting with all members ahead of time is vital. An agenda that is clear will outline important points and allocate reasonable amounts of time to each discussion. This prevents meetings from going off-topic, involving in repetition, or becoming an opportunity for only a few to contribute versus an inclusive dialogue of the all members of the Board.

Prioritize two issues to be discussed during each meeting. This is a standard practice that allows discussions to be focused and limit the number of items that can be reviewed during the meeting. This allows for more time to spend on each issue, and the decision to be made instead of simply sharing updates. The board book permits an easy sharing of updates and a little time can be allocated great site to them during the meeting.

It is important to communicate clearly the process for making decisions. Doing so ensures that all participants are aware of the decision-making process and will be on the same team when it comes to resolving disagreements and reaching consensus. It also sets expectations about the type of discussion to be held during the meeting, including finding common ground, discussing all perspectives, or resolving disagreements through a vote.