The way you start a board meeting is a chance to set the tone. This can be achieved by clearly communicating the reason of the meeting and setting time limits for agenda items. This ensures that the board meets its goals at every meeting, and prevents spending time on irrelevant topics.

To make the most of every minute, begin the meeting on time. To achieve this, prioritize the key issues to be discussed and make sure that all members have the background materials they need. Distribute an agenda that includes all the required documents and information, such as minutes of previous meetings as well as financial reports, updates on projects, presentations by committees and proposals.

Make sure that the discussion is focused on important topics that align with the strategic plan and manage risk. Limit long reports and other routine business to a quarter of the meeting so that the remaining time can be reserved for discussions about strategies. To help with this, board members could be urged to share short bullet points that outline the essential information they need to know instead of reading lengthy reports.

Review the performance of the organization since the last meeting, highlighting major milestones and areas where there is room for improvement. The board will then decide whether to implement strategies that promote growth and overcome obstacles. This portion of the board meeting also serves as an ideal time to review the upcoming elections for board members as well as reporting efficiency with top board reporting software provide any necessary orientation or training for new members.