Meetings at the Board are essential to support the company’s goals, preventing conflict and ensuring compliance with the requirements of regulatory agencies. However, they are only productive if everyone involved is actively engaged and committed to fostering a constructive dialogue. Implementing these best practices can transform your Board meetings to dynamic engines that can propel your company towards its long-term goals and vision.
Setting clear expectations and meeting guidelines is the first step towards running a smooth board meeting. It involves clearly identifying who is responsible for each item on the agenda and making sure that all attendees have a full understanding of what they can expect from the meeting.
By establishing and adhering to time limits for each item on the agenda, you will be able to maintain focus during the entire meeting. It also shows the attendees that their time is valued. Think about limiting the number of items on your agenda so that your board members have enough time to debate each one effectively. Voting on non-controversial issues can be accomplished through a consent agenda, which frees the time to discuss important issues. Utilize visual tools like countdown timers to track your time, especially when you are dealing with sensitive issues.
Unproductive discussions can result in unnecessary meetings and divert attention from the goals of the meeting. To prevent this from happening, add the word „parking lot“ on the agenda for issues that require further investigation or consideration but aren’t at the top of the priority list. Make sure you regularly check the parking lot to evaluate what needs to be further investigated, added to the agenda, or assigned as tasks.