A well-organized board meeting is a crucial element of good governance. It provides for thoughtful discussion and decision-making that can propel your company forward. If the meeting is centered around discussing strategic goals as well as discussing program successes and challenges, or discussing important legal matters it is vital to conduct an open and lively discussion. Board meetings that are efficient and effective will be well-planned and include timely distribution of materials along with a comprehensive and informative agenda, and clear communication of the procedure for making decisions.
1. Make sure that the agenda of the meeting is sent to all participants prior to the meeting and is easily accessible.
Nothing derails an effective board meeting more than board members in a rush to review crucial materials as they are discussed or, even more important, having no access to the materials prior to the meeting. This is easily avoided by distributing all agenda materials and other materials at least 3-4 business days before the meeting.
2. Begin the meeting at the right time.
It is crucial to begin the meeting at the right time. Board members are more enthusiastic if they are prepared. This can be accomplished by making sure that all relevant material are included on the agenda and by limit the number of discussion topics to those items that are most important to the meeting. It could also be beneficial to have the meeting outside of the boardroom, such as at a site for a program or breakfast, to give an opportunity to change the M&A Pipeline Management scenery and encourage new ideas and discussions.