The management of a business is almost always delegated to the board of directors (and this can be spelled out in your Articles of Association). Even if you have assigned some day-today decision-making responsibilities to other parts of the business it is vital that your entire board stays up-to-date and informed via regular board meetings.
You must ensure that your attendees have sufficient time to prepare for a meeting. It is best to do this by sending out the agenda as well as any reports in advance. You should aim to give at least a week’s notice to allow for enough time for everyone to attend.
The first item to consider should be the items that will determine the outcome. This includes all issues that require a vote but also discussion points and any pending or unfinished business from previous meetings.
The effectiveness of the organization is a crucial aspect. This includes reviewing any major accomplishments or milestones and finding areas for improvement and determining future strategies.
One of the most important things to remember is that discussions must be focused and productive. Distractions over new topics could take up time and divert you from the principal goals of the meeting. Board members should respect each others’ opinions and not interrupt anyone except when they have a problem or an argument to bring up. It is also acceptable for cell phones to be turned off and only used when needed. This will allow everyone to remain alert and aware.