The manner in which board meetings are run has a major impact on the quality of discussions and how effective they are. It is crucial to have clear expectations of how meetings should function and how they will be conducted.

In general, board meetings should not be dominated by reading from reports. Instead, committee chairs should review their reports prior to the time of the meeting and present them during the meeting. The board can then discuss each report and the information it contains in relation to the company’s larger goals.

Board members should be able to talk openly and freely to have productive conversations. This means that board members must respect each other their right to speak. Although there are exceptions interruptions to other board members is generally considered unprofessional.

A common mistake is to introduce a problem or issue to be discussed without having a clear recommendation on what the board ought to do. This can cause the discussion to be a bit sloppy and long. Start with a general concept and let everyone weigh the pros and cons.

A board secretary or other experienced person to take notes during the meeting will aid in ensuring that important information is not lost. It is essential to be clear about how the board will take its decisions, whether by the vote or consensus and who is accountable for the preparation of the minutes.

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