Effective Board Meetings
Effective Board Meetings are a key element in the strategic direction and governance of an organization. Meeting structure, length and design agenda, as well as the preparation of board members are important factors to maximize the effectiveness of board meetings. In addition, minutes of meetings along with follow-up for action items and decision implementation are also crucial to documenting the institution’s memory and providing a precise record of the board’s decisions (BoardEffect).
Establishing a regular schedule of board meetings provides a structure for the board to deliberate on strategic https://buildingbettertrustboards.org/ issues that will support the long-term viability of the organization. A well-planned agenda for board meetings that is streamlined in its distribution is the base of productive sessions. Board members must be provided with meeting materials in plenty of time to review and prepare for discussion.
The first item to be discussed at any board meeting should be an overview and update on the organization’s performance since the last meeting. This is an excellent opportunity to highlight important accomplishments and milestones, and to discuss areas to improve.
The board then should discuss strategies and determine the implementation plan that will move forward. The board should also come up with concrete metrics to measure the success of these strategies, such as key performance indicators that can be quantified and in line with the goals of the company.