Meetings of the board are crucial for achieving company goals, preventing conflicts and making sure that compliance is maintained. However, they can only be effective if everyone is committed to encouraging positive dialogue. Implementing these best practices will transform your Board meetings to dynamic engines that will propel your organization towards its long-term goals and vision.

The first step to running a successful board meeting is to set clear expectations and establish meeting protocols. It is crucial to clearly identify who is accountable for each item on the meeting agenda and ensure that all participants understand what they can expect.

Setting and adhering to timeframes for each agenda item helps to ensure that the meeting is focused throughout. This lets attendees know that they are appreciated. Limit the amount of agenda items to ensure that your board members can discuss each item efficiently. Voting on non-controversial topics can be done via a consent agenda, which will free time to discuss strategic Boardvantage benefits issues. Use visual tools like countdown timers to keep track of your time, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics.

Distractions in discussions can result in lengthy meetings that can detract from the goal of meeting. Include an "parking area" on the agenda, to include topics which require further investigation or consideration but aren't the top of your priority list. Always check in on the parking area to determine what issues need to be added to the agenda, researched further or delegated.