Board meetings are essential to the overall success of a business however, they can be tedious and time-consuming. There are several methods that can be employed to improve the structure of meetings, making them more productive, efficient and enjoyable.
It is important to ensure that board members are informed about the topics to be discussed during the meeting. This can be accomplished by providing participants with a written agenda that outlines the issues to be discussed and relevant documents prior to the meeting. This will eliminate any surprises and allow everyone to feel more prepared for the meeting.
The next step is to prioritize the most pressing issues to be addressed at the meeting. It is not unusual for discussions to diverge from the intended issues, and it could be beneficial to create an “parking lot” to discuss topics that take longer than the time allowed for the meeting. This will help keep the discussion on track and allow discussion to continue in a more private manner.
Additionally, it is essential to keep a record of the board meeting. This can be accomplished by an official written document that is signed and date. This will ensure that every decision made at the board meeting can be documented and later referred to.
These guidelines can turn your board meetings into an effective instrument to communicate important information to the various departments of your business. It may require some experimentation however, if you follow these tips, your board meetings will be more efficient, productive, and even fun!
