A streamlined approach to meeting planning is essential to have productive board meetings. This will ensure that you get the most value from every minute of your meeting. This means staying on course by avoiding rabbit trails and other unnecessary detours, and repeating the agenda’s goals whenever necessary. It is also important to have a timekeeper to keep the agenda on track, and a person who takes detailed notes so that everyone can review the notes later.

Distribute the agenda and all important materials in advance so attendees are able to prepare. This will help to keep meetings running on schedule and allow discussions to begin once everyone is at level on the topics of discussion.

Reduce the time you straight from the source spend on routine items and reports, which tends to delay conversations and cause attendees disengaged and bored. Concentrate on the most important issues and strategic issues that help the organization move forward.

Look for patterns in your reports that are routine and turn them into tasks for the board to address during the meeting. This is a great way to motivate your board members to address the issue, instead of just responding to a report.

Give your board members an opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts during the meeting. This will make them feel appreciated and heard, and could result in the introduction of new ideas that would have otherwise been overlooked.