How to Create Safe Board Meetings
A safe board meeting is a directors with a safe space to express their opinions while being respectful, critical and constructive. This gives them the opportunity to consider their views and make informed decisions that are beneficial to the growth of an organization.
The board chair is the crucial element in creating a safe board atmosphere by setting the tone, showing respect and ensuring that discussions are on topic and civil. The chair should also ensure that meetings are paced in order to give everyone boardroomsystem.com an opportunity to speak, and also to give the secretary time to taking notes.
A well-written agenda is a key element of a successful board meeting. Prioritize the most crucial items and move non-essential items to later meetings. The agenda should include sections for executive sessions as well as reports that need to be examined or approved.
Sending out the agenda and any reports to be reviewed before the meeting will allow the board members to read them before the meeting. This will help them be more prepared for the meeting and reduce the time spent on report reading during the actual meeting.
It’s also crucial to provide ample opportunity for discussion and questions during the meeting, because it isn’t easy to finish an entire agenda without a lot of discussion and debate. This is where a competent facilitator can be helpful. Board members should be encouraged openly about safety concerns, incidents, and potential hazards.