There is no doubt that coordinating a board meeting can be an exhausting, frustrating task. Your meetings can be unproductive https://yearsboard.com/how-to-have-a-great-board-meeting/ and waste your time and productivity in the absence of focus, organization or enthusiasm. If you want to have a great board meeting, there are a few easy steps you can do to ensure that your directors are actively participating.
At least once a year Consider evaluating your meetings
The process of collecting feedback is one the best ways to improve the quality of meetings. At the end of some of your meetings every year, ask your board members take two sticky notes and write the following: a “+” for what parts of the meeting were positive and an “-” for areas which could be improved. Request them to put the notes on the back of a poster that they can hang near the entrance so that everyone will be able to see the areas that need to be improved.
Manage Your Time
Keep your meetings short so that you can have a meaningful discussion and making decisions. Avoid the temptation to include lengthy reports and “have to” items in your agenda. Rather than discussing detailed information that has already been circulated in your board’s handbook think about breaking it up into smaller discussion topics or having your directors do their own research and then attend the meeting with questions to be discussed.
Board meetings can also be a place to increase the team’s enthusiasm and spur to take action. Include “mission moments” into the meeting, where the board can listen to testimonials and stories about the impact your organization can have on the lives of individuals. This can be a powerful energy booster for the group.