You should ensure that everyone is ready for the meeting of your board. One way to do this is to provide the meeting materials at least a week before the actual meeting. This gives both new and veteran members the chance to read the agenda and plan for discussions.
Communication with your board members is crucial prior to the meeting. This allows any news that is negative to be announced beforehand, so it doesn’t come as unexpected at the meeting. It is also a good idea to make use of this time to discuss with any committees or officers that have reports due at the meeting. Having a clear line of communication between the board and management is vital, particularly when there are issues that require immediate attention.
During the meeting, try to limit the topics of discussion to those on the agenda. This will help you move through each topic in a timely manner and ensure the board’s valuable time is used.
While some discussions could lead to disagreements, don’t let this discourage you from taking your time. Boards that encourage a variety of viewpoints tend to make better decisions than boards that have one view. A little disagreement can be an advantage.
It is crucial to review past decisions made by the board at every meeting. This will prevent you from repeating the same mistakes at future meetings and help you identify areas of improvement. It is also helpful to keep a record on how decisions were made in case of future disagreements.