Board Meeting Structure

Board meetings are structured differently depending on the composition and purpose of each board. Some meetings are formal and adhere to strict guidelines for the procedure of a parliamentary meeting (Call to Orders, Motions by Members and Motions by Members.). Others are less formal and can even be held in a casual atmosphere, such as the CEO’s house or in a restaurant. Every board meeting must have certain basic components regardless of the format.

A new board meeting should start with the presiding director taking care of any issues with logistics (date and time, the location of the meeting and meeting link, or video conference, etc.) This is the perfect time to make announcements of any kind and give kudos or shout outs.

Once all of the logistics are in place After the logistics are taken care of, the chief executive is then able to discuss any issues or concerns with the company’s recent performance. The C-suite as well the other managers, are able to discuss their thoughts and opinions regarding the company’s past performance as well as the future strategy. It’s crucial for the board to develop unified strategies that will enable the company to grow in all departments, and expand its market reach.

The board should then focus on developing action items that every chief officer will be able to communicate to their departments. This can be as simple as improving the sales process, or as intricate as establishing a new protocol for onboarding clients. The board must also decide on key performance indicators (KPIs) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts. The final step of the board meeting is to vote on any decision that requires the board meeting structure vote. Once the votes are recorded, the board may adopt a decision that was not ratified by a majority, or restart the meeting.