A successful board meeting requires careful preparation, planning and sharing of agenda items well in advance of the meeting. It is also crucial to concentrate on the discussion topics and to record and keep track of decisions and actions in a clear manner. This allows for efficient meetings and responsible follow-up that brings companies closer to their goals.

To ensure that your meetings are as efficient and efficient as possible, it's essential to be familiar with each member's expertise, desires and expectations. This helps you to tailor the agenda and encourage participation. Knowing the members of your board can help you decide on the best time to schedule meetings and also offers a convenient location for discussions.

Prioritizing the most important issues is crucial to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. A general rule of practice is to limit the amount of topics that can be discussed at a given meeting to two per hour, with the intention of allowing up to 30 minutes for each issue. If your organization is experiencing difficulty and needs help, it might be beneficial to dedicate a larger portion of the meeting to discussing hopes and future plans rather than updates.

Making all the required documents (committee reports, staff reports, Board packs and documents that explain the forthcoming decisions) accessible and easy to access before the meeting will also aid in maximizing Board engagement. Be sure that all these materials are uploaded on your board portal and made available to the Board before the meeting, and at the meeting.