How to Improve Your Board of Directors Meetings
A board of directors is a fantastic way to make sure that your company is effectively managed and decisions are made in a fair, open manner. However, for the board to be effective, it’s essential that all members are involved and are present at every meeting. Infrequent attendance at meetings can lead to the loss of productivity and leads to the decline of effective leadership. Here are some suggestions to improve your board meeting.
Plan ahead: Ensure that the board members have been provided with pertinent documents, such as financial statements, reports and background material prior to the date of the meeting. This will allow them to be ready with thoughtful questions. Notifying the board members early gives board members an opportunity to review their schedules and make sure they’re able to attend.
Start promptly: Begin your meeting with a quick call to the order and confirmation of the quorum. This will demonstrate that the board respects everyone’s valuable time.
Establish a clear process to make decisions: A clear process for making decisions helps to keep the discussion on track, and prevents distractions or diverting the meeting.
Encourage active participation: Creating a space that is comfortable for all members sharing their views and experiences can be challenging. Chairpersons have a significant responsibility in this regard, as they can encourage participation by inviting input from all sides and facilitating discussion that is balanced and constructive. They can also establish the ground rules for the discussion, in order to encourage concise remarks and equal time for all participants.