How to Have a Great Board Meeting
When your board meets, you want to make sure everyone is prepared. The distribution of meeting materials a minimum of a week before the meeting is one way to ensure everyone is well-prepared. This gives both new and veteran members a chance to look over the agenda and plan for discussions.
It’s also crucial to inform your board prior to the meeting. This will allow any negative news to be released prior to the meeting, so that it won’t be unexpected at the time of the meeting. It’s also a great opportunity to meet with officers or committees who will be presenting their reports at the meeting. A clear line of communication between the management and board is important, especially when there are issues that require immediate attention.
Limit the discussion topics in the meeting to topics that are on the agenda. This will enable you to work through each subject quickly and ensure that the time allocated to the board is effectively used.
Don’t be discouraged by disagreements which may occur during certain discussions. Boards that encourage diversity in thought are more effective than boards that are based on a single view. In reality, a little conflict is good and should be encouraged.
It’s also important to make the habit of reviewing the board’s decisions from the previous meeting. This will help you to avoid making the same mistakes at future meetings, and it will reveal areas for improvement. It is also beneficial to record how decisions were made in case of future disputes.