It is important to make sure that everyone is prepared for the meeting of your board. One way to do this is to distribute materials for meetings at least one week before the actual meeting. This gives both new and experienced members the chance to read the agenda and plan for discussions.

Communication with your board members is important before the meeting. This allows any negative information to be shared in advance, so it doesn’t come as a surprise at the meeting. You can also utilize this time to connect with any committees or officers that have reports due at the time of the meeting. It is important to have an open line of communication between management and the board particularly when there are urgent issues.

During the meeting, you should limit discussions to those that are on the agenda. This will allow you to find go through each topic quickly and ensure that the time of the board is effectively utilized.

While some discussions can cause disagreements, don’t let this discourage you from taking your time. Boards that encourage diversity in thought are better than those with a single point-of-view. Some disagreements can be beneficial.

It is crucial to review past decisions of the board at each meeting. This will prevent you from repeating the same mistakes in future meetings and highlight areas of improvement. It is also helpful to keep a record of how decisions were made in case of future disputes.