A well-organized board meeting is a good foundation for innovation and growth. To achieve this it is crucial to set clear goals and structure and ensure that the appropriate people are in attendance at the right time. The more board members feel respected for their time and knowledge, the more they will participate in discussions and take decisions.

It is essential to distribute all materials and agendas in advance. This is best done at least 3-4 days before the meeting. This will allow board members to look over the materials and formulate opinions and thoughts prior to the meeting. This allows the chair to start the meeting by providing a brief overview of the meeting's objectives and the most important input requested. This helps to get the meeting moving at the beginning of the meeting and keep it focused throughout the meeting.

Prioritizing items according to their importance and impact is essential when making the agenda. It is also important to make sure that all major topics are addressed. This will allow board members to focus on strategic decisions, not just on updates. This will result in more productive meetings.

Adhering to the time frames in the agenda will stop board members from getting sidetracked. Avoid controversial https://onlineboardmeeting.org/main-principles-of-good-corporate-governance topics on the consent agenda to save time and allow for a deeper discussion of more strategic issues. Also, allowing the chair the choice to make use of the "off-agenda", at the end of a meeting, to push tangents that require more time can prevent distractions and cut down on wasted time.