5 Best Practices for Effective Board Meetings
Board meetings should be productive and enthralling, with a focus on the strategic direction and goals of the organization. By following these best practices, boards can maximize the effectiveness of their meetings and improve participation while also improving the efficiency of their decision making and governance.
Attendance at Quorum is required
Opening the board meeting with an overview of the highlights from the previous phone or in-person blog here buildingbettertrustboards.org/what-makes-a-board-meeting-effective/ meetings as and a review of the agenda at a high-level will help establish a positive mood for the remainder of the board meeting. This will also help ensure that there is a members who are quorum to conduct business.
Offer a detailed discussion of the key items
Effective board meetings should contain discussions that are in-depth. However, too long agendas can drown participants with routine reports and “have to” items that detract from discussions on strategic and high-level issues.
Encourage participation by fostering a safe and Respectful Environment
A culture that encourages participation and respects differing views is essential to engage in discussions. This can be achieved by encouraging all board members be vocal while avoiding attacks on individual members and encouraging an open dialogue. This can be accomplished by using assessment of the board, facilitation techniques and encouraging constructive and informed discussion.
Define the procedure for decision-making to avoid confusion, disagreements, and confusion. Declare whether decisions will be made by consensus, a majority vote, or some other method, and document the results accurately in your board minutes. Be clear on how you will deal with follow-up and accountability issues.