How to Conduct Board Meetings

How the board meetings are conducted can have an important impact on boardroomate.com/best-ways-to-conduct-your-board-meetings-like-the-pros/ how productive and insightful the discussions are. To get the most value out of each meeting, it is important to set clear expectations about how the meetings are supposed to operate and how the decisions will be made.

In general, board meetings should not be overrun by reading reports. Instead committee chairs should go over their reports before the meeting and present them during the meeting. The board can then discuss each report, and the information contained in it, within the context of the company’s overall goals.

Board members need to be able to talk openly and freely to have productive discussions. This also means that board members must respect other members‘ right to speak. Although there are exceptions interruptions to other board members is generally considered in poor manner.

A common mistake is to bring up a problem or issue for discussion without having a clear idea regarding what the board must do. This can make the discussion seem unfocused and lengthy. Begin with a general plan and let everyone consider the pros and cons.

A board secretary or another experienced person to take notes during the meeting could ensure that important information is not lost. It is crucial to be clear about how the board will take its decisions, whether via consensus or voting, and who is responsible for the preparation of minutes.