Board Meeting Tips – How to Get the Most Out of Your Meetings

A well-crafted question from an Board Member can often be all that is needed to start an effective discussion. Ideally, discussions should make up the majority time at a board meeting. This is how you can tell if the meeting was productive and beneficial.

It is important to keep in mind that the majority of the time during a board meeting is filled with “have-tos” and other reports. These topics can quickly consume the meeting if given too much time. To avoid this, it’s best to start with the most important topics. This makes sure that the most important discussions can be held when everyone is fresh and ready to contribute their insights.

Showing your board members images and videos that are inspiring of your organization in action is a way to keep the discussion moving. This is particularly effective during financial discussions, where it can be difficult to keep your board members motivated.

It is also important to ensure that the board members remain attentive during the meeting by turning off or putting their cell phones off and not interrupting anyone else when they speak. This is good manners, but it’s even more crucial in a live board meeting.

To ensure that you have the best discussions as well as a swift and efficient board meeting, it’s also important to send the agenda and board materials out several weeks (if not months) before the meeting date so that the Board can pre-review them before the about his actual meeting. This will allow them to be prepared to discuss and make decisions when they arrive at the meeting.