How to Have an Effective Board Meeting
A board meeting is a time to discuss strategic issues and make decisions that will ensure the success of your business. If the meeting is not well planned or executed it could be ineffective and waste board members’ time. Knowing the most common pitfalls can help ensure that your board meetings are efficient and effective.
1. Overcrowding Your Agenda
Being able to address multiple issues in one meeting can lead to rapid discussions and a short time for each item. This type of discussion is also difficult to sustain.
2. Documentation for boards that is poorly prepared
When you are making preparations for board meetings it is essential to have all of the required materials handed out to board members before the meeting begins. This includes the agenda for the meeting, past minutes, committee reports, a book for the board, proposed policies and other pertinent information.
3. Failure to follow through on action items
It is essential to communicate your actions immediately after the meeting. This will allow you to avoid the problem of not implementing the results of your board meetings.
It is vital that every board member has a voice in the making of decisions. This requires establishing an environment in which diverse perspectives are valued and consolidated to form a well-rounded decisions. This can be accomplished by ensuring that all members have the opportunity to contribute to every meeting, and ensuring that decisions of the board are documented promptly.