www.yearsboard.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-google-for-nonprofits/
You must make sure that everyone is prepared for when your board meets. One way to do this is to provide the meeting materials at least a week before the actual meeting. This gives both new and old members the chance to review and prepare for the discussion.
Communication with your board is crucial prior to the meeting. This allows any negative information to be made public in advance, so it’s not a surprise at the meeting. It’s also a good opportunity to meet with committees or officers who will be presenting their reports at the time of the meeting. It is crucial to have a an open line of communication between the board and management, especially when there are urgent issues.
Limit the discussion topics in the meeting to topics that are on the agenda. This will help you get through each topic quickly and ensure the board’s valuable time is properly utilized.
Don’t be discouraged by disagreements that may arise during discussions. Boards that encourage a variety of viewpoints generally make better choices than those who have only one viewpoint. Some disagreements can be an advantage.
It’s also important to make a habit of reviewing the board’s previous decisions every meeting. This will help you to avoid repeating the same mistakes again in future meetings, and will help you identify areas of improvement. Keeping a record of how decisions were made can also help if disputes arise in the future.