Tips for Running a Successful Board Meeting

A successful board meeting is a blend of strategies designed to maximize the results and create the ideal environment for collaborative work. The following suggestions can help you set a dynamic mood, encourage participation and get the desired outcome.

Define the purpose of your meeting

Setting clear goals keeps meetings focused and productive. This will also guide participants in constructive discussions and decision-making process. Making clear the goals of the meeting allows leaders to prioritize the agenda, and allocate sufficient time for each topic and allow for flexibility in the event that unforeseen issues or urgent concerns arise during the meeting.

Start with the most important issues

The discussion of the most important topics prior to the other topics will be a great way to stimulate the meeting, as it will put everyone in the right frame of mind for deeper discussion. It is also http://www.digitalboardarea.net/8-tips-for-running-a-successful-board-meeting/ a great way to establish a precedent that your meetings will be focused on issues, rather than updates, which is an issue with many board of directors meetings.

Distribute all Meeting Materials advance

The distribution of meetings materials and reports to all Board members in advance is the best way to make sure they are prepared for the meeting. This gives attendees the opportunity to review the materials prior to the meeting and to prepare their thoughts and opinions. This will also stop the meeting from getting off-track or bogged down with administrative tasks.

Review Your Meetings

You can keep track of the action items during the meeting and then distribute them in a digestible format once the meeting is finished. In addition, it is important to evaluate your board meetings periodically to understand what’s working and what needs improvement.