In board meetings, directors present their different perspectives and debate different ideas in order to reach the consensus they need on crucial issues. These could include policies of the company, appointments to management or even addressing emergencies. It’s a lot more difficult than it seems to reach a consensus. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to take a major decision without the full backing of your board members and getting them all on the same as one another can be a tiring task.
The first step is establishing the structure that will ensure that every meeting yields maximum results. This means sending out meeting materials at minimum a week in advance to allow the attendees time to read them and understand them. Many boards also have an internal meeting of a brief duration prior to the actual board meeting to discuss the agenda items.
Then, ensure that the purpose of the meeting is clearly defined. This helps keep the meeting focused and encourage discussion, while ensuring that the board’s decision-making processes are transparent.
In the final phase, you should encourage participation by asking for feedback at the end of each meeting. This will allow you to identify and address any problems in the way your board functions, and will ensure that they are on the right track towards the goals they have set. Ideally, this will be done through surveys, anonymous polls or through facilitated discussions.
