If your board meetings fail to yield the results you want Perhaps it’s time to change your agenda. It is good to know that improving the effectiveness and efficiency of your board meetings is not difficult or time-consuming. The steps below can be taken slowly over time, and can be a significant influence on the overall quality of your meetings.
Start by setting clear agendas and precise time limits for each item. By setting a clear limit on the time that each subject can be discussed, board members will be more likely to keep their remarks short and concise. By assigning a timekeeper for the meeting can aid in ensuring that everyone adheres to these rules.
Avoid topics in which only a few members of your board are experts. Instead, consider what are the skills required of a strong leader having one-on-1 discussions with each between meetings to go deeper on topics that require more research or understanding. This way, you can save valuable meeting time for subjects that require your board’s complete attention.
Another problem that many board members struggle with is keeping the meeting on track after it has started. A lot of discussions can go off-topic, especially when board members are acquainted with each other and discussing personal matters just before the meeting starts. Make sure to keep discussions to the agenda items that are in front of them and gently redirect the discussion whenever members continue to wander off-course.
The bottom line is that your board meetings are meant to be a place to discuss strategic decisions and debate not just a space to update reports and updates. With a little planning, and a few small adjustments the board meetings you attend can be transformed into engaging, productive occasions that are vital to the success and growth of your business.