In board meetings, top-tier leaders gather to discuss and debate the strategic issues facing their organisations. These discussions have a direct effect on the direction of the organization including investor confidence and public opinion. It’s important for board directors maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of their meetings. This article shares tips to conduct board meetings with the goal of encouraging productive and engaging discussions.
Begin by welcoming board members and introducing them to one another, particularly when meeting participants are new to the group. This sets the stage for a productive board meeting, which helps establish an appropriate manner of conducting the boardroom, and encourages participation.
This is a sign of respect for the time of other directors and discourages tardiness. This is particularly crucial when a meeting is conducted via a virtual platform, where time management can be a struggle.
Avoid spending time on routine or unimportant items, such as voting and committee reports. Limit these items to 25 percent of your meeting time and spend the rest of the time discussing strategy and other important topics.
Make clear the manner in which decisions will be made during the meeting (consensus voting or another method). This will ensure that all members of the board are aware of the process of making decisions and are able to participate in meaningful discussions.
Obtain feedback from board members regarding their level of satisfaction with the way in which your organization conducts its board meetings. You can do this through informal conversations, or by using polling tools or surveys. For instance, you could ask whether the structure of the meeting and content allow for robust discussions or ask them to rate different qualities of a meeting on an arranged scale.
