Conducting a board of director meeting allows your company’s top executives to discuss the future of the company make important decisions and nail down company policies. The success of your meetings is contingent on the quality of your discussions and the quality of your board’s leadership. Board meetings also permit you to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and track the progress of your organization towards its goals.
An organized agenda will facilitate discussions between your board members and keep the board meeting efficient, productive and focused. Directors must be prepared for every board meeting by reviewing the agenda and papers for the board distributed prior to the meeting. This is a standard procedure that ensures every director is able to contribute to productive discussion.
The chair must confirm that there is a quorum present when the meeting starts. This is usually done through an open roll-call. It will identify the people who are in attendance to legally conduct business.
The board will then be able to hear reports from standing and special committees. The members of the board will be able to ask questions and discuss the information presented. Depending on the subject the board might be able reach a decision immediately or it may need more time to study the issue to find the best solution.
It is crucial that directors respect the opinions of others and avoid body language, whispering or notes to sway the opinion of another. Directors should be attentive and only speak when asked.