The board meeting is a key opportunity for your company to tap into the experience and perspective that Important People on your board bring to the table. If you allow them to sit and read reports, completing formalities or discussing procedural issues your board will depart the meeting with less than they could have.
The most effective board meetings include productive discussions and action items that are concrete. Follow these guidelines to help your meetings be more efficient.
Before your meeting, gain an knowledge of the schedules of your board members. Begin by using a program like Doodle to find the most common open dates in the calendars of your board members. Once you’ve determined the most suitable time, you can contact the people who manage their schedules directly to confirm their availability.
Begin the meeting by giving a brief overview on the most important issues and the inputs needed. This will include a summary of the highlights of the pre-meeting conference call and the board package.
Give your department heads and committees time and space to present important reports and updates. This will keep the board up-to-date and informed. Be aware that the board may need to discuss and revisit issues that were not resolved during the last meeting. It’s a good idea to assign a designated point person from your team to follow up on these items after the meeting. The board should also determine any necessary next steps. This should be clearly documented in the minutes, with the date and timeframe for each item.
Optimize Your Virtual Board Meetings with NASDAQ Directors Desk
