Effective Board Meetings help to bring businesses closer to their goals by bringing expertise to the table as well as fostering collaboration and decision-making. But, to conduct effective meetings requires that Board members prioritize efficient time management and have a clear prospective, forward-looking perspective. Board members must be aware of the effects that meeting length, design and rules have on their efficiency.
Meetings that are long, chaotic or confusing can eat up time. Often, this happens because of a lack of preparation or insufficient support from the executive team on the board portal. Board members may not fully understand their role in the process and may be prevented from participating in discussions that aren’t relevant to the agenda. However, a board meeting that is concluded too early could indicate that the board has become a rubber stamp, and does not challenge any decisions made.
The agenda for board meetings should be an organized and concise agenda and be distributed in advance of the board meeting, providing the main focus of each discussion and the main points to be discussed. The board chair should act as the facilitator of the meeting, leading the discussion to ensure that all pertinent issues are addressed within the allotted timeframe.
A productive Board meeting usually ends in a list of tasks and tasks to be completed prior to the next meeting. The process of preparing for the meeting can consist of reviewing materials as well as researching topics and creating thoughtful questions or suggestions. The board should also create accountability among its members by making sure they follow-up on all actions taken and decisions taken at previous meetings.