A well-run meeting of the board is a good foundation for innovation and growth. To achieve this it is vital to establish clear objectives and establish structures that ensure the most appropriate people are present at the appropriate time. The more board members feel valued for their time and knowledge, the more they will be involved in discussions and making decisions.
It is essential to distribute all materials and the agenda in advance. This should be done at a minimum of 3-4 days prior to the meeting. This will allow board members to look over the material and formulate their opinions and ideas prior to the meeting. This lets the chair begin the meeting with a brief recap of the meeting’s focus and the main inputs sought. This helps to get the meeting moving at the meeting at the beginning and keep it focused throughout the meeting.
Prioritizing topics according to their importance and impact is crucial when planning the agenda. Also, it is important to make sure that all key topics have been addressed. Prioritizing topics in this manner will allow the board to take strategic decisions and not just concentrate on updates. This will make meetings more productive.
Adhering to the time frames in the agenda will prevent board members from becoming distracted. Make sure that non-controversial issues are on the consent agenda to save time and allow for deeper discussion of more strategic issues. Also having the chair utilize an “off-agenda” at the end of the meeting to encourage further tangents that require more time is a good way to keep distractions at bay and to limit wasted time.
https://www.onlineboardmeeting.org/main-principles-of-good-corporate-governance/