Board meetings are crucial to the success of any organisation. They need a lot of work and commitment from both the leadership team and the board members. How can you run your board meeting in a way that is both productive and efficient? The answer lies in careful planning and a well-organized agenda for meetings and the timely distribution of materials with a smart schedule, the right locations, and easy access to the required material.
The meeting should begin by introducing the agenda and extending a warm welcome to all who are present, especially guests or new members. Establish the tone by stating the purpose of the board’s meetings and clearly describing the process for making decisions. It’s important to adhere to the quorum requirements in your governance documents and make sure that all members are present.
Discuss the most significant agenda items on the board first, making sure that they have sufficient time to be thought over and discussed. This will help drive the most stimulating and energizing conversations and help you stick to the scheduled time for meetings.
The process you’ll utilize to make decisions at the meeting. This will help ensure that everyone on the board understands and accepts the decision-making processes, which is crucial to effective decision-making.
Give the board ample time to discuss new, unsolved issues. This is https://www.boardroomate.com/ referred to as «new business.» Typically, these will be focused on discussion with the intention of settling a decision. If, however, you decide that more research is required or that a final decision can’t be reached at the time of the meeting it’s beneficial to include an agenda section for these topics. These items can be addressed in future meetings or through follow-up discussions.