Board meetings should be interactive and productive, with a clear focus on the strategic direction and organization goals. By following these best practices boards can improve the effectiveness of meetings and increase engagement while enhancing efficiency as well as decision-making and governance.
Attendance at Quorum is Required
Opening the meeting with a recap of highlights from previous pre-meeting telephone or in-person meetings, and a review of the agenda in a high-level manner will help set a positive tone for the rest of the board meeting. This will also help ensure that there is a sufficient members who are quorum to conduct business.
Deliberate in-depth on the essential items
Effective board meetings must contain discussions that are in-depth. However, lengthy agendas could drown participants in routine reports and “have to” items that detract from discussions of high-level and strategic issues.
Encourage participation by fostering a safe and respectful environment
A culture that encourages participation and respects diverse opinions is essential for engaging discussions. This can be accomplished through encouraging everyone on the board to speak about their opinions by avoiding personal attacks and encouraging open dialogue. This can be achieved through using the process of evaluating board members, facilitation techniques and encouraging constructive and informed discussions.
Clarify the procedure for decision-making in order to avoid disagreements, confusion, and confusion. Make clear whether decisions will be made by consensus, a majority vote, or any other method, and record the results accurately in your board’s minutes. Be transparent about your follow-up procedures and accountability.