Effective Board Meetings can help companies reach their goals by bringing expertise into the meeting in fostering collaboration and facilitating decisions. But, to conduct effective meetings requires that Board members prioritise efficient time management and a focused, future-oriented outlook. Board members should also be aware of the impact that meeting length, design, and rules have on their effectiveness.
Meetings that are too long, disorganized, or confusing can waste time. This is often due to a lack in preparation or lack of support from the board portal executive team. Board members may not understand their role in the process and may be discouraged from participating in discussions that are irrelevant to the agenda. A board meeting that concludes early could be interpreted as an official rubber stamping board that does not question any decisions taken.
Board meetings should always be accompanied by an agenda that is concise and clear, distributed well in advance of the board meeting outlining the focus of each discussion and the most important points to be addressed. The chair of the board should act as facilitator for the meeting, guiding the discussion to ensure all pertinent issues are addressed within the time frame allotted.
A productive Board meeting is usually reflected in a list with to-dos and tasks to be completed prior to the next meeting. The process of preparing for the meeting can consist of reviewing materials, researching topics, and creating thoughtful questions or suggestions. The board should also encourage the culture of accountability in its members by ensuring they follow-up on all actions and decisions made at previous meetings.
