Guidelines for Conducting Successful and Productive Startup Board Meetings.
1.Establish a clear purpose for board meetings and stick to it.
Board meetings should be used to make decisions and take action, not just to exchange information. The board should establish a clear purpose for each meeting and stick to it.
2. Set an agenda and send it to board members ahead of time.
2. Set an agenda and send it to board members ahead of time.
An agenda helps to keep meetings on track and ensures that everyone is prepared for the discussion topics. The board should send the agenda to all board members ahead of time so they can come prepared.
3. Start and end on time.
3. Start and end on time.
Board meetings should start and end on time, even if not all items on the agenda are covered. This helps to ensure that everyone's time is respected and that the board is productive.
4. Make sure everyone has the opportunity to speak.
4. Make sure everyone has the opportunity to speak.
Board meetings should be a forum for open discussion, so everyone should have the opportunity to speak. Board members should avoid talking over one another and allow everyone to have their say.
5. Keep discussions on track.
5. Keep discussions on track.
While it's important for board members to be able to freely exchange ideas, discussions should stay on track and decisions should be made as efficiently as possible. Board members should avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary details and stick to the agenda.
6. Deal with difficult issues head-on.
6. Deal with difficult issues head-on.
Board meetings can be a difficult place to deal with difficult issues, but it's important to face them head-on. Board members should be prepared to have tough conversations and make tough decisions.
7. Avoid distractions.
7. Avoid distractions.
Board meetings can be a busy time, but it's important to stay focused on the discussion at hand. Board members should avoid distractions such as checking their phones or working on their laptops.
8. Respect everyone's time.
8. Respect everyone's time.
Board meetings are a valuable opportunity for board members to discuss important issues, but they're also a time commitment. Board members should respect everyone's time by coming prepared and not taking up too much time with unnecessary discussion.
9. Follow up on action items.
9. Follow up on action items.
After a meeting, it's important for the board to follow up on any action items that were discussed. This helps ensure that decisions are actually implemented and that progress is tracked.
10. Evaluate the effectiveness of board meetings.
10. Evaluate the effectiveness of board meetings.
Board meetings can be an effective way for boards to make decisions and take action, but they're not perfect. Boards should periodically evaluate the effectiveness of their meetings and make changes as necessary