Tips for Conducting Board Meetings
During board meetings top-tier leaders gather to discuss and debate the strategic issues that face their organisations. The results of these discussions determine the organization’s direction and affect everything from investor confidence to public perception. It is therefore crucial for directors of boards to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their meetings. This article offers tips on how to conduct board meetings in a manner that encourages productive and engaging discussions.
Begin by welcoming board members and introducing them to one another, particularly when participants are new to the group. This sets the stage for a productive board meeting, helps establish an appropriate manner of conducting the boardroom, and encourages participation.
The meeting should begin and end promptly, as this shows respect for the other directors and deters tardiness. This is particularly crucial when meeting via video, where managing time can be difficult.
Avoid spending time on routine or unimportant items, such a committee reports and voting. Limit these items to 25 percent of your meeting time. Then make the most of the time discussing strategies and other important topics.
It is important to communicate clearly the way in which decisions will be made during the meeting (consensus voting or another method). This will ensure that all board members are aware the decision-making process and can participate in meaningful discussions.
Get feedback from board members about their satisfaction with the way your organization conducts its board meetings. This can be done by informal conversations or by distributing surveys and polling tools. For instance, you could ask whether the board’s meeting structure and agenda allow for lively discussion or ask them to rate different qualities of a view meeting using an arranged scale.
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