The way board meetings are conducted has an impact on how efficient and informative the discussions are. It is essential to establish clear expectations for how meetings will function and how they will be conducted.
In general, board meetings should not be dominated by reading reports. Instead the committee chair should read their boardroomate.com/ reports prior to the time of the meeting and present them during the meeting. The board will then discuss each report and the information it contains in the context of the company’s goals.
Board members should be able to talk openly and freely to have productive conversations. This also means they must respect the rights of others to speak at their own pace. Although there are exceptions, interrupting other board members is generally thought to be in poor manner.
A common error is to bring up a problem or issue for discussion without having a clear idea on what the board should do. This can cause the discussion to feel stale and long. Instead, begin with a general proposal for actions and let everyone consider the advantages and disadvantages of each idea.
Having a board secretary or another knowledgeable person take notes during the meeting could ensure that important information is not lost. It is crucial to explain clearly how the board will take its decisions, whether it is by the vote or consensus and who is accountable for the preparation of the minutes.