From establishing the meeting’s order to adjourning when time is up, running the perfect board meeting requires a degree of intentionality that can make a difference. The more participants feel that their time and knowledge is respected and appreciated, the more they’ll be involved in http://www.boardmanagers.net/decision-making-tools-to-help-increase-productivity-and-free-up-time/ the outcomes of every meeting. Here are some basic tips on how you can get there.
Avoid rushing your board meetings – particularly when you’re having a meeting in person. You don’t want attendees to feel distracted or like they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. It also helps to give your attendees the opportunity to look over the board packet and other materials prior to the meeting – either a full board deck or a more digestible memo/Notion doc.
The best way to ensure a productive board meeting is to have a strong structure in place and adhere to it. This means not adding new items to the agenda in advance, requiring attendees to read the materials prior to the meeting and setting expectations for each agenda item based on the length of time it is to be discussed. This will allow the board to keep their focus and avoid tangents.
Check that each agenda item has a final goal noted – is it to seek information, get consensus or arrive at an agreement? This will allow you to keep the meeting productive since you can concentrate on the important issues and not get distracted. Distributing the minutes of your board within 24 hours following each meeting will reinforce the decisions made and ensure actions are taken swiftly and efficiently.