If board meetings are handled correctly, they are cornerstones for advancing your organization toward its goals. But running a meeting for your board can be a challenge. If your board meets face to the face or online it’s important to plan ahead, set realistic time allotments for each agenda item, and follow a structure that encourages participation and discussion.

Begin your board meetings with a call to order. This is a quick method to verify that everyone is present and ensure that there is a sufficient quorum to hold the meeting (which is dependent on your board’s size).

Facilitate the conversation so that all directors receive equal airtime. This is especially crucial when discussing complex or controversial topics. A Navigating Business Challenges with Virtual Data Rooms few or a handful of people dominating the discussion can limit the variety of voices and could lead to rushed decisions that lack board approval.

Set up a clear process for making decisions prior to the meeting, including how the board will evaluate the pros and cons of each option. This will keep the discussion productive and focused. If you’re unable to come to a consensus, you can use the voting method, like a majority vote.

It’s an excellent idea to prioritize action items. These are the specific responsibilities that arise from the discussions and decisions taken during the meeting, including gathering information for an ongoing project or determining the the next steps to implement an innovative strategy. The fact that you finish on time is a sign of respect for your directors valuable time and demonstrates that you can get what you required to achieve.