Board meetings are meant to be productive and enjoyable with a focus on the goals and direction of the organization. By adhering to these best practices, boards can increase the effectiveness of their meetings, and increase engagement while also improving efficiency, decision-making, and governance.
Ensure Quorum Attendance
A quick review of the agenda and a recap of the highlights of previous pre-meetings, whether in person or over the phone will help establish an optimistic mood for the rest of your board meeting. This will also ensure that a quorum of members is present to conduct business.
Provide a detailed discussion of the key items
Effective board meetings must contain time for in-depth discussion. However, lengthy agendas can drown out participants with routine reports and “have to” items that detract from discussions of strategic and high-level issues.
Encourage Participation through Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment
A culture that encourages participation and respects different views is essential to engage in discussions. This can be achieved by encouraging all board members voice their opinions and avoid slandering people, and promoting an open dialog. This can be achieved through using the process of evaluating board members, facilitation techniques and encouraging Network Security a constructive and informed discussion.
Define the decision-making process clearly to avoid confusion, disagreements and miscommunication. Decide if decisions will be made by consensus, a majority vote, or any other method, and document the results accurately into the board’s minutes. Be clear on the way you handle accountability and follow-up issues.
