Effective Board Meetings can assist companies succeed by bringing expertise into the meeting, encouraging collaboration, and facilitating decisions. To run effective meetings, Board members must prioritise time management and have an agenda that is focused on the future. Board members must be aware of how meeting length, design and rules affect their effectiveness.
Meetings that are long, disorganized or confusing could waste time. This is often due to a lack of preparation or lack of support from the executive team. Board members might not comprehend their role in the process and could be disinclined to participate in discussions that are irrelevant to the agenda. On the other hand, a board meeting that Effective Board Meeting ends too early could indicate 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 and be distributed in advance of the board meeting, outlining the focus of each discussion as well as the key points to be discussed. The board chair should act as the facilitator of the meeting, guiding the conversation to ensure that all pertinent issues are addressed within the allotted timeframe.
A productive Board meeting typically results in an agenda of tasks and actions that must be taken before the next one. The preparation for the meeting could include reviewing materials in the meeting, researching topics, and formulating thoughtful questions or suggestions. The board should also promote the culture of accountability in its members by ensuring they follow up on every action item and decisions taken at previous meetings.
