In board meetings, directors outline their differing perspectives and debate various ideas to come to the right decision on key issues. These can include the company’s policies, management appointments and even how to respond to emergencies. It’s more difficult than it appears to reach a compromise. It’s almost impossible to take major decisions without the full support of your board, and getting everyone on the same page can be a daunting task.

The first step is establishing a structure to ensure that each meeting will yield maximum results. This includes sending out the meeting materials at minimum a week in advance to allow attendees boardroomcommunity.com/full-guide-to-better-board-meetings/ time to read and understand the material. Many boards also hold an internal meeting of a brief duration prior to the actual board meeting to discuss agenda items.

Next, make sure the meeting’s goals are clearly stated. This will help keep the focus and facilitate discussion, all the while ensuring the board’s decision making processes are transparent.

Also, encourage participation by asking for feedback at the conclusion of every meeting. This will help identify and address any issues with the way your board operates and keep them on track towards the goals they have set. This can be done with surveys, anonymous polls, or facilitated discussion.