The board meeting provides a great chance for your company’s board to benefit from the experience, perspective, and influence of Important People. But if you let them be occupied with reading reports, completing administrative formalities and debating procedural issues — your board will leave with less than they could have.
The most effective board meetings have productive discussions and action items that are concrete. To make your meetings as effective as possible take these steps:
Make sure you know your board members’ schedules prior to your meeting. Start by using a tool like Doodle to find common open dates on your board member’s calendars. Once you have found the best time to contact the people who manage their schedules directly to confirm their availability.
Begin the meeting by giving an overview of the major issues and inputs requested. This will likely include recapping highlights from the pre-meeting call and the board’s agenda.
Give your committee heads and department heads time and space to present important reports and updates. This will keep the board up-to-date and informed. Be aware that the board may need to revisit or discuss matters that weren’t resolved during the last meeting. It is helpful to designate an individual within your team to ensure these issues are addressed following the meeting. In the end, the board should determine any necessary next steps. This should be documented in the minutes, with the digital board portals deadline and expectations for each item.