Effective Board Meetings help to bring companies closer to their goals and bring in expertise, fostering collaboration and facilitating the process of making decisions. To conduct 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 the length of meetings and design affect their effectiveness.
Meetings that are too long, inefficient or confusing can eat up time. This is often due to a lack in preparation or inadequate support from the board portal executive team. Board members may not understand their role in the process and could be prevented from participating in discussions that are not pertinent to the agenda. In contrast, a board meeting that is concluded in a hurry could mean that the board has become a rubber stamp, and is not questioned by any decisions made.
Board meetings must have a clearly defined agenda that is circulated well prior to the meeting. The agenda should detail the main topics of discussion for each board member as well as the focus of the meeting. The chair of the board should act as facilitator of the meeting, guiding the discussion to ensure all pertinent issues are discussed within the allotted time.
A productive Board meeting usually ends with an agenda of tasks and actions that must be completed prior to the next meeting. Preparing for the meeting may consist of reviewing materials or analyzing topics, as well as developing thoughtful questions or suggestions. The board should also foster a culture of accountability in its members by ensuring they follow-up on all actions taken and decisions made at previous meetings.
