A well-defined and strategic agenda for the board is the basis to conduct every meeting. It ensures that every discussion reaches its intended outcome, and avoids becoming distracted by the details. It requires more than the right format to conduct an effective board meeting. Board members must be prepared for the meeting, and be ready to participate in productive discussions.
Reviewing the board’s materials prior to the meeting is one of the most beneficial things a board member can do to ensure a successful event. This will help them to familiarize themselves with the material and prepare questions for the meeting. This is a great way to increase participation by encouraging everyone’s unique viewpoint to be heard.
Focusing on the content, not the format is another important factor to ensure a successful board meeting. Board meetings need to be efficient and focused. It is therefore important to arrange topics in a logical manner. Start with the most urgent and critical ones. Then, you can move to those that build upon them. Last but not least, don’t forget set aside a portion of the meeting to discuss new business. This is a great opportunity for board members to engage in productive discussions that will help move the company forward.
In recent years Boards have been pushed to take on more hands-on tasks. This can result in meetings getting longer than necessary and veering off topic. One way to avoid this from happening is to keep the information on the board dashboard at the strategic level and prioritize it.