A well-organized and efficient board meeting is a great foundation for growth and innovation. In order to achieve this, it is essential to establish clear goals and structure for meetings, and make sure that the appropriate people are in the room at the right time. The more board members feel valued for their time and knowledge the more likely they will be involved in discussions and making decisions.
It is important to disseminate the agenda and all other materials in advance, with ideally 3-4 days before the meeting. This allows board members to look over the materials and formulate opinions and ideas prior to the meeting. It also lets the chair begin with a brief overview of the purpose of the meeting and key input being sought. This will help to energize the meeting at the beginning and keep it focused throughout.
Prioritizing the items based on their importance and impact is crucial when planning the agenda. It is also important to ensure that all important topics are addressed. This will allow the board members to focus on strategic decisions, and not just update. This will help make meetings more https://onlineboardmeeting.org productive.
Following the timeframes on the agenda will help prevent board members from getting sidetracked. Affixing noncontroversial items to the agenda for consent can save time for deeper discussion on more strategic topics. Finaly, allowing the chair the option to utilize the “off-agenda” at the end of the meeting to make tangents more urgent and require more time can assist in avoiding distractions and reducing wasted time.