Board meetings should be engaging and productive with a clear focus on the strategic direction and organization goals. Using the following best practices boards can increase meeting effectiveness and engagement while improving efficiency as well as decision-making and governance.
Attendance at Quorum is Required
Opening the meeting with an overview of highlights from previous pre-meeting telephone or in-person meetings, in addition to a review of the agenda at a high level will help to set a positive tone for the remainder of the board meeting. This will ensure that hop over to these Effective Board Meetings a quorum is present to conduct business.
Offer a detailed discussion of the most important items
Allowing time for deep discussions is a crucial aspect of effective board meetings. However, overly long agendas could drown participants in routine reports and “have to” items that detract from discussions on strategic and high-level issues.
Encourage Participation by creating a safe and Respectful Environment
Engaging discussions require a culture that encourages participation and respect for diverse viewpoints. This can be accomplished by encouraging everyone on the board to speak out by avoiding personal attacks and promoting open dialogue. This can be achieved through using board evaluations, facilitation techniques and encouraging constructive and informed discussions.
Clarify the process of decision-making to avoid confusion, disagreements and miscommunication. Decide if decisions will be made by consensus, a majority vote or another method, and then record the results accurately into your board minutes. Be transparent about follow-up procedures and accountability.