5 Best Practices for Effective Board Meetings
Board meetings should be productive and engaging with a focus on the goals and the strategic direction of the organization. By following these best practices boards will be able to maximize the effectiveness of their meetings and increase participation while also improving the efficiency of their decision making and governance.
Attendance at Quorum is Required
A quick review of the agenda and a summary of the highlights from previous meetings, whether in person or over the phone will help establish an optimistic mood for the remainder of the board meeting. This will ensure that a quorum of members is present to conduct business.
Explore in depth the important issues
Effective board meetings must include discussions that are in-depth. However, too long agendas can drown out participants with routine reports and “have to” items that detract from discussions of important and strategic issues.
Encourage participation by creating a safe and respectful environment
A culture that encourages participation and respects differing perspectives is crucial to board meetings bringing people together in discussions. This can be accomplished by encouraging all board members to speak up while avoiding personal attacks and encouraging dialogue. This can be accomplished through using board evaluations, facilitation techniques and encouraging constructive and informed discussions.
Make clear the decision-making process to avoid disagreements, confusion and confusion. Be clear about whether decisions will be made by majority vote, consensus, or another method and record the results accurately in your board’s minutes. Similarly, be transparent about how you will deal with follow-up and accountability issues.
