In addition to the meeting itself board meetings require a lot of preparation by many people. To make these meetings as effective and productive as possible participants must follow the rules of a board meeting. This ensures that the discussion stays on topic and prevents people from losing time or distracting others.
To avoid this, it is essential to distribute the agenda along with reports and other talking points at least a week prior to the meeting. This allows members to https://www.boardroomother.com/10-tips-for-mastering-nonprofit-governance/ review all the necessary information and prepare their remarks and questions ahead of time. It is also a good idea to inform the chair ahead of time if a member has a conflict of interest, whether it’s real or not. This will allow the chair to let the member declare the conflict, and then expect to be absent.
Respecting the opinions and contributions of others is a further important aspect of manners of conduct. Paying attention to other speakers and not interrupting them, even if you disagree with their opinion, is part of this. Also, it means speaking clearly and only asking questions when you need to. In addition, it’s an excellent idea to switch off or put on silent your cellphone during the meeting and only make personal calls in an emergency situation.
This will help participants concentrate and take part in the meeting to the fullest extent. The one thing you do not want is for them to get distracted by your mobile phone ringtone or to worry about whether or not your microphone is muted.