How to Have a Successful Board Room Meeting
The board room is where the most important decisions are taken. Effective board meetings are critical to the success of your business whether they result in an innovative strategy or stop you from making a costly mistake. It is essential to be etiquette-conscious in your boardroom, as are a good understanding of the rules of parliament and the ability of facilitating productive discussion.
A well-planned agenda is the foundation of a successful board meeting. It sets the agenda for the meeting and outlines the key issues to be discussed and guides the flow of the discussion. It lets the board be able to discuss the essential issues within the time allocated to meetings. It also contributes to the overall governance of a company.
To start off the meeting, the presidency officer calls the meeting to order at the designated time, and begins to call the roll to ensure that a quorum of board members is present. Once all attendees are properly accounted for the agenda and previous minutes are approved. The board then goes over any old issues that are still unresolved and considers any new items that have been added to the agenda. Once these issues have been discussed, the board can close the meeting.
To ensure a smooth boardroom, it is best to limit time spent on reports or “have to” items. This will give the board more time to discuss the most important issues and the direction of the company. The board can also cut down on reports by asking officers and committee chairpersons to present only the most relevant information in a brief and concise report prior to the meeting.
