A board meeting can be productive and enthralling. However, running an effective board meeting is no easy task. As chairperson, it’s your responsibility to ensure the meeting is productive and that everyone is involved. A deviation from the plan can be costly, especially as decisions taken by the board affect other members of your company.
Start with a clear agenda that’s distributed to board members prior to time. Make sure the agenda outlines the purpose of each item being discussed: is it to inform or gather information to come to a conclusion? Understanding the goal of each topic can assist you in managing your time and avoid getting sidetracked.
Before moving on to other business matters make sure to address any issues that require an approval vote or are able to be voted on. Be careful not to let these items eat up the majority of your time at meetings You’ll want to give every issue the attention it deserves. If you find that your board members have to spend too much time on old business, consider pushing them onto the agenda for the next meeting or requesting a future report to be discussed at the next meeting.
Encourage participation by allowing participants to raise their hands when it is their turn to speak. This will help the chair of the board identify everyone and keep the discussion on the right track. It is important to ask everyone to turn off their microphones when they are not speaking. This will help stay clear of distractions like pets or children. Set your online meetings apart from regular meal times to ensure that people don’t eat on camera.
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