Meetings at the Board are a vital way to keep the organization on track and establish the strategy. They can be slowed by lengthy reports and other things that don’t help to advance the strategic direction resource of your business.

If you want to ensure your board meetings are productive and efficient you must establish clear expectations for the purpose of the meeting, its agenda structure, as well as the process of making decisions. Additionally, a board management tool such as Range can help streamline the process of establishing an agenda and communicating with directors.

A clear agenda structure can help the meeting stay focused and on the right track. The executive and chair should collaborate in determining discussion topics. Include topics that are related to the board’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. A board management plan can help create a templated agenda for board meetings to ensure that they are consistent and ensure that no item is missed.

To reduce time wasted, limit the number of reporting items on your board’s agenda. Also, encourage chairpersons and officers to present brief reports prior to the meeting, which highlight what the whole board needs to know. This will leave the majority of the time for discussion and decision-making.

To stimulate discussion, start the meeting with an inspirational story from board or staff members. This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate an accomplishment or remind attendees of the importance of their work and responsibilities. Then, you can focus the remainder of the meeting on future strategies and ways to get over any roadblocks that could hinder progress.