When board meetings run well they can be a collaborative cornerstone for moving your company towards its goals. But running a meeting for your board can be a challenge. It’s essential to plan ahead and establish realistic time limits for each agenda item.

Call your board meetings to order. This is a simple way to ensure that everyone is present and the meeting is sufficient quorum (which can vary depending on the size of your board).

Facilitate the discussion so that each director has equal time on the air. This is especially important when discussing complex or controversial topics. A small or no number of people in a conversation can stifle the diversity of the conversation and lead to rush decisions that are not well-informed.

Set up a clear process for making decisions beforehand, including how the board will evaluate the pros and cons of each option. This will keep the discussion focused and productive. If you’re not able to reach a consensus, use an option for voting, like a majority vote.

It’s a good idea, also, to establish specific actions to take. These are the specific responsibilities that result from the discussions and decisions made during the meeting, such as finding information needed for an ongoing project or determining the the next steps to implement the new strategy. The fact that you finish on time shows respect for your directors time and proves that you can achieve nonprofit board software the results the meeting was called for.