The manner in which board meetings are run can greatly impact the quality of the discussion and how productive they are. It is essential to establish clear expectations about how meetings will function and how they will be conducted.

In general the board meetings should not be dominated by reading from reports. Instead, the chairs of committees should go over their reports before they present the https://www.boardroomate.com/ reports at the time of the meeting. The board will then examine each report, and the information contained within it, within the context of the company’s goals.

Board members should be able to speak freely and freely in order to have productive discussions. This means that board members must respect each other the right to speak. Interrupting other board members, although there are exceptions, is generally thought to be unprofessional.

A common mistake is to present a problem or issue to be discussed without a clear suggestion on what the board should do. This can cause the conversation to be unfocused and too long. Start with a general idea and let everyone consider the pros and cons.

A board secretary or any other knowledgeable person to take notes during meetings can ensure that important information is not lost. But, it is crucial to communicate clearly how the board will make its decision–whether it is through the voting process or consensus–and who will be responsible for preparing the minutes.