A board meeting can be a enjoyable and productive experience. However, coordinating a successful board meeting isn’t a simple task. As chairperson, it is your responsibility to ensure the meeting is productive and that everyone is fully involved. Off-course decisions can be costly for your business, especially if they affect the rest of the group.

Send board members an agenda that is detailed in advance. Make sure the agenda outlines the reason for each item being discussed: is it to inform or gather information, or make a decision? Understanding the purpose of each subject will help you organize your time better and prevent becoming distracted.

Before you move on to other business items take note of any items that require an approval vote or are able to be www.urbanboardroom.com/ten-governing-documents-every-board-member-needs/ approved. You don’t want to waste the entire time of your meeting on these issues. Instead you should give each issue the attention that it deserves. If you find that your board has to spend too much time discussing old business, consider pushing it to the agenda for your next meeting or asking for a subsequent report to be discussed at the next meeting.

Encourage participation by allowing your participants to raise their hands when it’s their turn to speak. This will help the chair of the board recognize everyone’s voice and keep the discussion on the right track. Also request that everyone mute when they’re not speaking to keep away distractions such as children or pets. Make sure to schedule your online meetings around regular meal times to stop people from eating while on camera.