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A board meeting can be positive and stimulating experience. It’s not easy to run an effective meeting. The time of board members is valuable and it’s your task as the chairperson to steer discussions in the proper direction and ensure that everyone is fully engaged throughout the entire meeting. A deviation from the plan can be costly particularly when decisions taken by the board affect other members of your organization.

Start with a clear agenda that’s sent to board members prior to the meeting. The agenda should clearly state the reasons for each item being discussed: is it meant to inform or gather information to arrive at a decision? Understanding the purpose behind each topic will help you manage your time more effectively and avoid being distracted.

Make sure to discuss any old business issues that require a vote and are ready to be ratified prior to moving on to new business items. Be sure to not let these www.urbanboardroom.com/how-to-host-a-successful-board-meeting/ items consume the majority of your time at meetings as you’ll need to give each item the attention it deserves. If you feel that your board has to spend too much time discussing past business, consider adding it to the agenda of the next meeting or asking for a future report to be presented in an upcoming meeting.

If your board meetings are held online make sure you encourage participation by allowing participants to raise their hand when it’s their turn speak. This helps the chair of the board acknowledge everyone and keep the discussion on track. It is important to ask everyone to turn off their microphones when not speaking. This will allow you to keep distractions out of the way, such as children or pets. Plan your online meetings from regular meal times so that people aren’t eating on camera.