Effective Board Meetings help to bring companies closer to their objectives and bring in expertise as well as fostering collaboration and decision-making. However, conducting effective meetings requires that Board members prioritize efficient time management and have a clear, future-oriented outlook. Board members also need to be aware of how meeting length, design and rules affect their effectiveness.
Meetings that are long, disorganized or confusing can take up a lot of time. This is often due to a lack of preparation or inadequate support from the executive team. Board members might not comprehend their role in the process, and they may be disinclined to participate in discussions that aren’t relevant to the agenda. However, a board meeting that finishes too early could indicate that the board has become a rubber stamp and is not questioning any decisions that are made.
The agenda for board meetings should be a clear and concise agenda, distributed well in advance of the meeting outlining the topic of each discussion as well as the most important points to be addressed. The chair of the board should lead the meeting and steer the conversation so that all relevant topics are discussed within the agreed-upon time duration.
A productive Board meeting will usually result in a list with to-dos and actions to complete prior to the next meeting. This may include making preparations for the meeting through reviewing documents, analyzing topics, and preparing thoughtful questions or ideas. The board should also foster a culture of accountability in its members by ensuring they follow up on every action item and decisions made at previous meetings.
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