A board of directors meeting is a fantastic opportunity for your organization’s leaders discuss the future of the business, make important decisions and create company policies. The effectiveness of your meetings depend on the quality of your discussions and the quality of the board’s leadership. Board meetings allow you to assess the progress of your business and establish important performance indicators.
A well-organized agenda for your board helps facilitate discussions on the board and keeps the meeting efficient, productive and on target. Directors should be prepared for every board meeting by reviewing the agenda and board papers distributed prior to the meeting. This is an established procedure that guarantees everyone can participate in productive discussions.
The chair should confirm that a quorum is present when the meeting starts. This is usually done with a roll-call. This will identify the people who are present to legally conduct business.
The board will then hear reports from standing and special committees. The board members will be able to ask questions and discuss the information presented. The board may need to spend more time on the subject to find the most effective solution.
Directors must respect each other’s opinions and refrain from using body language, whispering or notes to sway someone else’s opinions. Directors should also be attentive and only speak up when they are required to do so.