Board meetings are an incredible opportunity to shape a company, pulling together brain power to navigate through stormy waters and calmer waters. When done well, board meetings can have an enormous influence on the direction of a business. But without a clear structure and a strict discipline meetings can become ineffective and frustrating for all those involved.

It’s crucial to establish the tone by calling the meeting to order and discussing all issues of a formal or personal nature. After confirming that a quorum is reached it’s time to move on to the next item in the agenda and start the main discussion. This is typically where you’ll be discussing major you can look here organisational changes, crucial forks in the road, and strategies that will guide your business to a future of success.

If you’re worried about the length of your meetings, cut back on reports and other “have-to’s” by encouraging officers and committee chairs to share brief, bullet-point summary of the meeting. This will allow you to focus more in strategic discussions and your guests won’t be bored or distracted by long conversations.

Send all relevant documents to your attendees prior to the meeting (committee and staff reports, Board packs, and any documents that provide context). This will cut down on time during the meeting and will encourage participants to plan ahead. When the meeting begins begin with any follow-up questions or clarifications that arise from the reading materials you have prepared and then dive right into your most critical discussions.