If done correctly If they are done well, Board Meetings can be an opportunity to harness the collective wisdom of your Important People to tackle key business issues and take important decisions. They can determine the direction your organisation takes and guide it through rough waters before guiding it into more tranquil waters. It is essential to ensure that every meeting is beneficial by ensuring you decide on the most appropriate topics and engage all of your participants.
Chairs should confirm that there is a quorum present prior to the meeting beginning. This can be done via roll call or asking all participants to raise their hands. The chair should then provide an overview of what is the primary focus of the meeting as well as an overview of the major points to be discussed. The chair should also make sure that any new items on the agenda are given enough time to be discussed before they are put to vote.
Before addressing any deliberation or decision-making, it’s essential to review all relevant information and reports. This includes financial statements and progress reports on initiatives or projects, and customer feedback surveys. This information should be compiled into a “board package” and distributed to all members prior to the date of the meeting so that they can digest it before a discussion is held at the table in the boardroom.
It is vital that your board members can engage in honest, open discussions. This can be promoted by creating a culture of trust, allowing those who are quiet to speak up, and encouraging them to confront prevailing ideas in a respectful manner. Meetings should be well-organized with regular breaks, refreshments, and other activities to keep everyone motivated and focused.