A good board meeting is an essential element of good governance. It facilitates an intelligent discussion and makes decisions which will help propel your organization forward. It is essential to hold a dynamic and thorough discussion, whether the meeting is discussing strategic goals, program successes and challenges, and/or important legal issues. Board meetings that are efficient and effective are well-planned and consist of the timely distribution of information as well as a thorough and informative agenda, and clear communication of the process of making decisions.
1. Ensure that the agenda is distributed prior to the meeting and made available to everyone who attends.
It is impossible to hold an effective board meeting if everyone is trying to find crucial materials while they are discussing, or worse still if the materials are not available in advance. This can be avoided by distributing the agenda as well as all the necessary materials at least 3-4 days in advance of the meeting.
2. Begin the meeting on time.
Board members are most energized when they are ready for the meeting, therefore it is vital to ensure that the meeting begins promptly. This can be done by making sure that all relevant documents are included in the agenda, and also by restricting the discussion topics to those items that are most important to the meeting. It could be beneficial to hold the meeting at another venue, such as an event site or a breakfast event. This will provide an entirely new setting and encourage new ideas.