Tips for Running a Successful Board Meeting
Conducting a successful board session requires a blend of strategies that maximize results while creating the ideal atmosphere for collaboration. The following suggestions can help you create an exciting atmosphere, encourage participation and get the desired outcome.
Clearly define the goals of your Meeting
The setting of clear goals helps keep meetings focused and productive. This will also lead participants to meaningful discussions and decision making processes. Setting clear goals for meetings will allow organizers to prioritize agenda items, provide sufficient time for each subject and offer flexibility in the event that unforeseen questions or urgent situations arise during the meeting.
Start with the most important issues
Focusing on the most important issues first will help to energize your meeting, and will help to get everyone in the right mindset for a deeper discussion. This is a great way to establish an expectation that meetings are focused on issues instead of merely updates.
Distribute all meeting materials prior to the event
The best way to ensure that all Board members are well-prepared for the meeting is to distributing the meeting materials and reports in advance. This will allow the attendees to read the material and prepare their thoughts and opinions prior the meeting. This will prevent the meeting from drifting off track or becoming a tangle of administrative tasks.
Assess Your Meetings
Utilizing an online portal for your board will allow you to keep track of actions items and follow-up activities during the meeting, and give them out in an easily digestible format after the meeting is concluded. It is also crucial to evaluate the board’s meetings regularly to determine what works and what needs to be improved.