The way you begin the board meeting is an opportunity to establish the tone for a productive and efficient session. This can be accomplished by clearly communicating the reason of the meeting and setting time limits for agenda items. This will ensure that the board achieves its goals each time it meets, and it will also help avoid spending time on issues that are not critical.
To make the most of every minute, start the meeting promptly. To accomplish this, prioritize the most important issues that need to be discussed and ensure that all participants have the background materials they need. Distribute a strong agenda with pertinent information prior to the meeting and include all necessary board documents, including minutes of the previous meeting, financial reports, committee presentations, project updates and proposals.
The discussion should be focused on issues of high priority that are in line to the strategic plan and that can take care to manage the risk. Limit the time spent on long reports and routine business to one-quarter of the meeting. The remaining time can be used for strategic discussions. Board members should be encouraged instead of reading lengthy reports, to share bullet points that highlight what they need to http://electronicboardportal.net/what-do-you-say-to-open-a-board-meeting know.
Examine the performance of the company since the last meeting, highlighting major milestones and areas where there is room to improve. This helps the board decide if they want to proceed by adopting strategies to help grow and overcome obstacles. It is also a good time to review the upcoming board elections and provide any orientation or training to new members.
