Effective Board Meetings bring companies closer to their goals and bring in expertise encouraging collaboration and facilitating decision-making. However, conducting effective meetings requires that Board members focus on efficient time management and have a clear on the future. Board members should be aware of the effect on the length of meetings, their layout and rules have on their effectiveness.
Meetings that are long, cluttered or confusing can take up a lot of time. This is often due to a lack in preparation or insufficient support from the executive team. Board members may not be aware of their role in the process and be prevented from participating in discussions that are not relevant to the agenda. A board meeting that finishes early could be interpreted as a rubber stamping board that does not challenge any decision made.
Board meetings should always have a clear and concise agenda and be distributed in advance of the board meeting, outlining the topic of each discussion and the main points to be addressed. The chair of the board should serve as facilitator for the meeting, guiding the conversation to ensure that all pertinent issues are discussed within the timeframe allotted.
A productive Board meeting usually produces a list of things to do and actions that should be completed prior to the next meeting. This may include preparing for the meeting by examining materials, analyzing topics and creating thoughtful questions or ideas. The board should also encourage the culture of accountability in its members by ensuring they follow-up on every action item and decisions made at previous meetings.
