Board Board Meeting Facts Meetings are crucial to the future of a company. But a board that just abides by whatever management decides to put on the agenda isn’t doing its work and could put the organization at undue risk.

Board meetings can be long and boring. It is easy to get lost in the amount of time spent listening or discussing irrelevant issues. There are a variety of factors that affect the effectiveness of a board meeting such as how well the agenda is arranged and how much time spent on important issues and topics, as well as the rules and procedures for conducting the meeting.

Rules for meetings can vary between boards however, they must be clear and consistent to ensure consistency and transparency. Some of these rules are set by law (e.g. quorum requirements) while others could be determined by the board’s own bylaws or by common law.

Attendance records must be clearly documented in the minutes of meetings, with the proportion of attendees that make up the quorum being noted. It is also essential to note the number of attendees – if there were any board members absent or if any participant was present remotely. (See our article on Attendance of Board Members). A brief description of every discussion should be recorded along with the amount of time spent on each subject. This will allow you to manage time and avoid repetition of information at future meetings.