Board meetings are vital for the success of a non-profit organization. However it can be difficult to start productive discussions. Fortunately, there are several strategies that can improve productivity and help your organization run more smoothly.
Start with a Success Stories
Start your meeting by giving an update that is positive. Board members will be excited to hear that the organization is progressing. This can be as simple as highlighting an achievement by staff or an individual board member. It can be as important as a new source of funding or the introduction of an innovative program.
Make use of a digital solution
Using a portal for board members that has document management makes preparing and distributing documents for board meetings much easier. Searchable references help participants to find relevant details during a discussion. It’s also less expensive to distribute and archive board documents digitally rather than print them out and mail them out physically.
Manage Time
It can take a lot of time to discuss issues on the board and it is crucial to keep the meeting on track. Consider including estimated discussion times with each item on the agenda, so that you are able to cover every item on the agenda.
Also, be aware that the rules of conduct will determine how many members are required to have quorum at a meeting. This knowledge will prevent members from discussing irrelevant issues when it is clear that there is not a sufficient number of people present for the discussion to proceed.
