How to Make Your Board Meetings More Productive
what is a written consent agenda
The board meeting is a great opportunity for your company’s board to gain from the knowledge as well as the perspective of Important People. If you let them sit and read reports, filling out formalities and discussing procedural issues your board will depart the meeting with less than it could have.
The most efficient board meetings include productive discussions as well as specific actions. Use these suggestions to enhance the effectiveness of your meetings.
Before you meet, make sure you have an knowledge of the schedules of your board members. Use a tool like Doodle to locate common dates that are available in the calendars of your board members. Once you’ve identified the most convenient time, talk to those who manage their own schedules directly and ask for a final confirmation of their availability.
Start the meeting by giving a brief overview of the agenda and the key input sought. This could include a recap of highlights from the calls prior to the meeting and the board’s report.
Give your department heads and committees the space and time to share important updates and reports. This will keep the board updated and informed. Be aware that the board may require a revisit or discussion of topics that weren’t resolved at the last meeting. It is helpful to assign a designated point person from your team to follow up on these issues following the meeting. Lastly, the board should decide on any important next steps. The decision should be clearly documented in the minutes. There should be a set deadline and expectation for each item.