If your board meetings are not as effective as you’d like, it might be time to change things up. Fortunately, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of your board meetings is not difficult or our website time-consuming. The steps listed below that can be implemented gradually over time, can have a dramatic impact on the quality of your meetings.
Start by setting clear agendas and strict time limits for each item. By setting a clear limit on the time that each topic can be discussed Board members will be more likely to keep their statements short and to the point. Assigning a timekeeper to the meeting will also help ensure that everyone sticks to these rules.
Avoid topics in which only a handful of members of your board have expertise. Have one-on-one meetings with each member of the board between meetings to discuss issues that require further research or knowledge. This way, you’ll save time during meetings for topics that require your board’s complete attention.
Many board members have difficulty getting the meeting back on track once it has started. Many discussions can easily veer off-topic, especially if board members are familiar with each other and talking about personal news right before the meeting starts. Try to steer the discussion back to the agenda item at hand and respectfully redirect the members who continue to diverge.
Your board meetings should be a time of discussion and strategic decisions not just a space to report and update. With careful planning and a few tiny changes, you can transform your board meetings into lively productive and productive events that are vital to your company’s growth and success.