A successful board meeting requires a range of skills, ranging from the preparation and facilitation of productive discussion to the preparation of board material. Additionally, a well-run board meeting will lead to the formulation of action items to be completed post-meeting to help drive progress. The most important factor to success in all of these areas is effective board management that encourages a wide range of perspectives and encourages fruitful deliberations, leading to new ideas.
Make an agenda and communicate it in advance
Effective board meetings begin with a carefully planned agenda that outlines a path for discussion and ensures all critical topics are addressed. Board members should be urged to review agendas ahead of the meeting and suggest modifications or additions, if needed. A clear and concise meeting agenda can aid in keeping the discussion on track and avoid it getting too long or diverting off topic.
Conduct a roll call to determine quorum
Assure that all board members attend the meeting. This can be done by using a roll-call, an online tool, such as Krisp or the documents governing the board to determine the number of people required to conduct business.
Encourage Participation
Participation in productive discussions requires active participation by all participants. It is possible to facilitate this by encouraging board members, reaching out to those who might not be vocal, or by facilitating discussions with tools such as decision matrices and SWOT analyses. Moreover, it is crucial that all views are respected and appreciated, regardless of whether they are in line with the prevailing notions of the meeting.