{"id":30653,"date":"2014-09-17T20:10:33","date_gmt":"2014-09-18T00:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joangarry.com\/?p=30653"},"modified":"2022-06-29T17:53:54","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T21:53:54","slug":"run-a-great-board-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joangarry.com\/run-a-great-board-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes A Board Meeting A Home Run?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some of you may be thinking, “Home run board meeting? Joan, you\u2019re kidding right? We\u2019re lucky if our board members aren\u2019t checking Facebook and texting the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n

But for effective nonprofits (like yours I hope!) board meetings aren\u2019t necessary evils. And they are not (should not be) a passive experience.<\/p>\n

You probably have at least a vision of what a good board meeting looks like. If you need a refresher, here are ten good questions board members should be asking<\/a>. This should help.<\/p>\n

But this isn\u2019t about what makes a good board meeting. This is about what makes a GREAT board meeting.<\/p>\n

Does it have something to do with the content of the meeting<\/a>? Clearly that\u2019s critical.<\/p>\n

But even the best board meeting will fall completely flat and won\u2019t be worth the time and energy you put into unless\u2026<\/p>\n

FINISHING OFF THE SWING<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Several years ago I took up racquetball. I\u2019m an \u201call-in\u201d sort of woman, and so of course I got a coach. Why learn a new sport if you aren\u2019t going to master it? But that\u2019s just me. It drives my kids a bit mad sometimes.<\/p>\n

My coach tells me that the biggest difference between a good shot and a great one is \u201cfinishing off the swing.\u201d Yup. Follow through.<\/p>\n

And now you know the answer. Follow through.<\/p>\n

Follow through is what will take a good board meeting and make truly great.<\/p>\n

But just like my racquetball swing, it\u2019s not just any follow through. Technique matters.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s HOW to follow through.<\/p>\n

THE RIGHT KIND OF FOLLOW THROUGH<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are five to-do items that will enable you as a CEO or board leader to turn a good meeting into a great one. It\u2019s the stuff that follows \u201cWe stand adjourned\u201d (assuming you and your board follow (nay, know)<\/em><\/strong> Robert\u2019s Rules of Orders.)<\/p>\n

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  1. Action Items vs. Minutes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Taking accurate board minutes is an obligation of every organization. Somebody has the clear responsibility to capture the discussions in summary and be sure to note any vote that occurs on anything.But who captures action items? <\/em><\/strong>Every single discussion results in some follow-up item. It could be a stumper question from a board member that requires staff follow up or a commitment a board member makes that will require additional work or a new approach the staff has agreed to explore.<\/p>\n

    Where are those captured? Who manages that list? Where\u2019s the accountability?<\/p>\n

    I suggest the following:<\/p>\n