Meetings at the Board are essential to supporting company goals, preventing conflict and making sure that the company is in compliance with regulations. However, they can only be productive if everyone is engaged and committed to encouraging constructive dialogue. By applying these best practices you can transform your Board meetings into the dynamism engines that drive your business toward its long-term strategy and goals.

The first step in running a successful board meeting is to establish clear expectations and establish the meeting’s protocols. It includes clearly identifying who is responsible for each item on the agenda, and ensuring that all participants have a full understanding of what they can expect from the meeting.

Establishing and adhering to timeframes for each agenda item helps to maintain focus throughout the meeting. It also shows the attendees that their time is important. Limit the number of agenda items to ensure that your board members are able to discuss each item with ease. The items that aren’t controversial can be approved via a the consent agenda to allow more time for discussions of strategic issues (BoardEffect). Utilize visual tools such as countdown timers for keeping track of your time, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics.

Distractions from new discussion topics can distract from the meeting goals and lead to unnecessary discussions. Include a “parking area” on the agenda for topics which require further investigation or consideration, but aren’t on the top of your priority list. Regularly revisit the parking area for the purpose of determining what needs to be added to the agenda, researched further or delegated.

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