The successful running of a board meeting requires a wide range of skills in everything from the creation of materials for board meetings, to the facilitation of productive discussions. A well-run board meeting should lead to action items which are executed following the meeting to help drive forward. The key to success in all of these areas is effective board management that allows for a broad range of perspectives and encourages productive discussions that lead to new insights.

Create an agenda and distribute it in Advance

A well-planned agenda is the key to a successful board meeting. It serves as a reference to discuss and ensures that all important topics are covered. Board members should be encouraged to review agendas prior to the date of the meeting and suggest changes or additions, if needed. A clear and concise meeting agenda can help keep the discussion on topic and avoid it getting too long or wandering off-topic.

Conduct a Roll Call to determine quorum

Ensure that all relevant board members can participate in the meeting by making sure that the quorum requirements are satisfied. This can be accomplished using a roll call, an online tool such as Krisp, or the documents that govern the meeting to determine the number of people required to conduct business.

Encourage Participation

Everyone must be engaged to ensure productive discussions. It is possible to encourage this by encouraging http://digitalboardarea.net/8-tips-for-running-a-successful-board-meeting board members to be vocal, reaching out to those who may not be vocal, and encouraging discussions with tools like decision matrices and SWOT analyses. It is also important to be respectful and respect all opinions, regardless of whether or not they are in line with the general consensus of the meeting.