A board meeting that is productive will enable the company to move forward by taking informed decisions. Board members must plan meetings collaboratively. They should review documents and reports, give feedback and answer any questions. They should also engage in thoughtful discussion and analysis of strategic issues, including a thorough review of existing strategies and a plan for future direction.
An agenda that is clear is the first step to a successful board meeting. This agenda should be given to participants prior to the meeting, and include the items to be discussed (e.g., the board’s package, minutes from the past, proposed policies and committee reports). By distributing these materials in advance, you assist participants in preparing for the meeting, prevent wasted time searching for relevant information during the meeting and make sure that all the important points are covered.
After the board has reviewed, debated and acted upon reports and information it is time to make decisions. This is where the true power of the board lies. During this portion of the meeting the board will discuss and make decisions on specific actions that need to be taken to meet the goals of the business. The chair should also call a roll-call to confirm a quorum and ensure that all members of the board are participating in discussion.
It our website is beneficial for the board members to include subject matter experts within the company during decision-making processes. Inviting someone from the engineering department provide an update on the latest product, or having a sales leader talk about a recent major win can bring fresh perspective and help to facilitate productive discussions. It’s also a great idea to invite outside speakers to provide the board with more knowledge on relevant topics.