A well-run board meeting is one of the best ways to gain the support needed to tackle difficult issues and take decisions. To ensure productive meetings, it is important that everyone is on the same level and has had the opportunity to read the materials prior to the meeting. This allows for more discussion and assists boards in making well-informed decisions that are in the best interests of the company.

Board members are extremely busy and most likely have numerous commitments on their calendars. It is therefore important to plan board meetings in advance and ensure that all directors are able to Evolving the Corporate Development Function for Sustainable Growth accept the invitation. It is also a good idea to develop a template for the board in order that all directors have access to the material prior the meeting.

The most important thing to do during the day of a board meeting is to effectively manage time. This includes making sure that all items on the agenda are actionable and relevant and includes enough information. It’s also recommended that each item to be allocated a specific amount of time to ensure that the board doesn’t get sucked into discussions that aren’t needed for anything.

It’s also a great idea to create an online survey on your board portal to solicit for feedback after each meeting, which helps to keep the level of frustration low and prevent issues from boiling over. This will also help to improve the structure of meetings in the future and ensure that board members are better prepared for tough decisions.