There is no doubt that managing a board meeting can be a time-consuming, frustrating task. Your meetings could be wasted time and productivity if they lack focus organization or enthusiasm. There are a few simple steps you can do to make sure that your directors are engaged and take part in a productive board meeting.
Make sure you review your meetings at least Once a Year
The process of collecting feedback is one the best methods to improve your meetings. After one or two of your annual meetings, have your board members take two sticky notes with them and write an “+” to indicate which parts of the meeting were effective and an “-” for areas that could be improved. Then, ask them to stick notes on a poster which they can put on the door of the meeting so that everyone can see what needs to be changed.
Manage Your Time
Keep your meetings as brief as you can in order to ensure you have enough time for real discussions and decision making. Avoid the temptation to include lengthy reports and “have to” items in your agenda. Instead of focusing on the information that was already distributed in your board book, consider breaking it into smaller topics for discussion or having your directors do their own research and come to the meeting with questions ready to discuss.
Board meetings are a fantastic way to motivate your team and get them excited. Add “mission moments” into the meeting, so that the board can listen to stories and testimonials about the impact your company has on the lives of its members. This can be a great energy booster for the group.