Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Board Meeting Agenda

A well-planned board meeting agenda is key to productive discussions as well as informed decision-making and governance within your organization. However, many home companies have common mistakes that impede meeting productivity and effectiveness. Here are a few most common mistakes to avoid:

Not Giving Enough Time

Too many topics can lead to unproductive discussions and less time to address every issue. This leads to poor productivity. To avoid this, select the few topics that are high priority and relevant to the objective of the meeting. Prioritize items based on their importance, urgency and logical order. Include a section on «new business» and other discussions that are not scheduled. This allows board members to bring up any other concerns or issues to be considered.

The inability to include diverse perspectives

Invariably, board members will have distinct viewpoints and insights that are beneficial to the organization. It is a huge mistake that will result in poor decisions and missed opportunities. In fostering an inclusive workplace that is respectful of and enlists different perspectives, will guarantee the best results for your business.

Inaction on Board Meeting Resolutions

Insufficient follow-up erodes the accountability of board members and reduces their trust. Establish responsibilities and deadlines for each action item, and periodically review progress to make improvements. Also make it a habit to get feedback after each board meeting about the clarity of agenda items, adequacy of time allocations, and the overall flow of meetings. This will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of your meetings.