There are some guidelines you can use to ensure that your meeting runs smoothly and efficiently, regardless of whether it’s in person in your boardroom, or a remote meeting from your couch.
Punctuality, preparation and starting on time are great ways to get started. Be sure that board members have all the materials they need before the meeting. Agendas that are well-written and clear and distributing them in advance can help keep the meeting focused on the most important issues that must be discussed.
Do not waste time reading reports. Long reports can quickly drown the board’s conversation. Only discuss leadership and committee reports during the board meeting when they are needed to make decisions or provide oversight. The rest can be handled via email or smaller meetings.
Limit the discussion of product features and roadmaps. A company’s direction shouldn’t be determined by what the CEO thinks the market would like. If you must talk about products, consider the reasons you’re taking specific directions. This will help you stay on track and help prevent the “Enron effect” in which boards are too hands-off not to see any problems forming beneath the surface.
Schedule candor breaks These brief moments of silence will allow board members to talk about issues they aren’t comfortable discussing with their peers. They are often required to ensure that everyone’s opinions are heard and everyone feels at ease expressing their opinions.
