When your board is meeting, you should ensure that everyone is ready. Distributing meeting materials a minimum of a week prior to the meeting is a good way to ensure everyone is well-prepared. This gives both new and experienced members the opportunity to review and prepare for the discussion.
Communication with your board members is important before the meeting. This will allow any bad news to come out in advance, so it won’t be an issue at the time of the meeting. You can also use this time to talk with any committees or officers that have reports due at the time of the meeting. A clear line of communication between the board and management is important, especially when there are issues that require immediate attention.
Limit the discussion topics during the meeting to those which are listed on the agenda. This will allow you to move through each subject quickly and ensure the board’s valuable time is properly utilized.
While some discussions can result in disagreements, don’t let these discourage you. Boards that encourage diversity of thought are better than those with a www.yearsboard.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-google-for-nonprofits/ single point-of-view. A little disagreement can be an advantage.
It’s also vital to make an habit of reviewing your board’s previous decisions every meeting. This will help you avoid repeating the same mistakes at future meetings and help you identify areas that could be improved. Keep a record of the decisions were made could be useful if disputes arise in the future.