At board meetings, top leaders meet to discuss and debate the strategic issues that face their organisations. These discussions have a direct effect on the direction of the company from investor confidence to public opinion. This is why it’s vital for directors of boards to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their meetings. This article offers tips for conducting board meetings that have the goal of fostering engaging and productive discussions.

Start by welcoming and introducing every board member particularly if they’re new to the meeting. This sets the stage for a productive board meeting, helps establish an appropriate manner of conducting the boardroom, and encourages participation.

Begin and conclude the meeting at the right time, which shows respect for the other directors and discourages tardiness. This is especially crucial when a meeting is conducted via a virtual platform, where time managing can be a challenge.

Don’t waste time with routine or irrelevant items, such as committee reports and voting. Instead, limit these to 25 percent of the time and make the most of your time to discuss strategy and other key issues.

It is important to clearly communicate the method of making decisions during the meeting (consensus, voting, or some other method). This will ensure that all members of the board know the process of decision-making and can take part in meaningful discussions.

Get feedback from your board members on their satisfaction with how you conduct board meetings. This find here can be done through informal discussions or by giving out surveys and polling tools. For instance, you can ask whether the structure of the meeting and content allows for a lively discussion or ask them rate different qualities of a meeting using a numbered scale.