The board meetings are vital to the success of an organization. The board members as well as the leadership team must exert a lot effort and commitment. But how do you conduct a board meeting which is efficient and productive? The answer lies in careful planning and a well-organized agenda for meetings and the timely distribution of materials as well as smart scheduling, appropriate locations, and the ease of access to material.

The meeting should begin by introducing the agenda, and extending a warm welcome to everyone present, especially new members or guests. Set the tone by stating the purpose of the board's meetings and clearly describing how decisions will be made. It is also crucial to consider quorum requirements, as specified in your governing documents, and ensure that all members are present to legally conduct business.

Discuss the most important agenda items first. This will ensure that you allow sufficient time for them to be considered and discussed. This will enable you to have the most lively and stimulating discussions and help you stick to your allotted meeting schedule.

The process you'll use to make decisions at the meeting. This will ensure that all board members comprehend and agree on the decision-making process that is essential to efficient decision making.

It is important to give the board plenty of opportunity to discuss unresolved and new issues, known as "new business." These will typically be discussions with the intention of achieving a conclusion. If you decide that further research is required or that an official decision is not taken at the time of the meeting, it's a good idea to create a section on the agenda. These items can be addressed in future meetings or in follow-up discussions.