A board of directors is a great way to make sure that your business will be managed well and decisions made in a fair, transparent manner. To be effective, the board must be active in its members and present at every meeting. A lack of attendance at meetings leads to a decrease in productivity and effective leadership. Here are some suggestions to improve the quality of your board meetings.
Plan ahead: Ensure that all company’s board of directors meetings board members receive pertinent documents such as financial statements, and other background information prior to the meeting, so that they are prepared with thoughtful questions. Sending the information early also gives board members an opportunity to review their schedules and confirm they’re free to attend.
Start promptly: Begin your meeting by making a brief call to the order and confirmation of quorum. This will show that the board values everyone’s valuable time.
Establish a clear decision-making process: Having a clear and concise decision-making process helps keep the discussion on track and helps avoid distractions that could disrupt the meeting.
Encourage active participation: Creating a space that is comfortable for all members sharing their thoughts and ideas can be difficult. Chairpersons can play a crucial role in promoting participation by soliciting input from both sides, and facilitating an open and constructive discussion. They can also set ground rules for the discussion to make sure that everyone has a concise message and equal time for all participants.
