Effective Board Meetings can help companies reach their goals by bringing in experts in fostering collaboration and facilitating decisions. But, to conduct effective meetings requires that Board members focus on efficient time management and a focused on the future. Board members should also be aware of the effects that the length of meetings, their design and rules have on their effectiveness.
Meetings that are long, chaotic or unclear can waste valuable time. It is usually due to a lack of preparedness or insufficient support from the executive team on the board portal. Board members may not fully understand their role in the process, and they may be disinclined to participate in discussions that are not relevant to the agenda. In contrast, a board meeting that finishes prematurely could suggest that the board has become a rubber stamp and is not questioning any decisions taken.
The agenda for board meetings should be an organized and concise agenda that is distributed prior to the date of the board’s meeting, detailing the purpose of each discussion as well as the most important points to be discussed. The chair of the board must data management facilitate the meeting and lead the conversation so that all relevant issues are discussed within the agreed-upon time frame.
A productive Board meeting will usually result in a list of to-dos and actions to be completed before the next meeting. This may include making preparations for the meeting by reviewing documents, analyzing topics, and developing thoughtful questions or ideas. The board should also encourage accountability among its members by ensuring they follow-up on all actions taken and decisions made at previous meetings.