Board meetings are a crucial opportunity for collaboration and decision-making among key stakeholders. They can be a catalyst for the growth of a business, but only if they’re conducted efficiently. Board members are often busy with schedules and a lot of responsibility, so it is important that they attend each meeting with a complete agenda.
Agenda items for board meetings could include strategic updates, committee reports, presentations, special topics, new business and nominations for board members. There is also a time of public comments where parents who are dissatisfied with their school or individuals may speak to the board.
Planning the agenda for a board meeting involves the planning of the order of things and providing attendees with appropriate materials prior to the meeting. It is also important to have the right materials and equipment in the room. Flipcharts and whiteboards as well as videoconferencing or the teleconferencing system are all essential. It’s also important to be sure that the room is well-lit and free of distractions, and to have drinks or food on hand.
Another key element of the board meeting is defining the next steps, and ensuring that all decisions are documented and distributed to the appropriate parties right away following the meeting. A digital board management tool such as Range can make all the difference. It will allow quick production of minutes and other items which are published and distributed to all attendees before they leave the boardroom or saved in a PDF format for later distribution.