Effective Board Meetings can help companies achieve their goals by bringing in experts as well as encouraging collaboration and facilitating decisions. To conduct effective meetings, Board members must prioritise the management of time and have a vision that is focused on the future. Board members must also be aware of the effect that meeting length, design, and rules have on their effectiveness.

Meetings that are too long, cluttered or confusing can waste valuable time. It is usually because of a lack of preparation or insufficient board portal executive team support. Board members might not be aware of their role and discouraged from participating in discussions that don't relate to the agenda. On the other hand, a board meeting that ends prematurely could suggest that the board has become a rubber stamper and does not have any doubts about the decisions that are made.

The agenda for board meetings should be a clear and concise agenda, distributed well in advance of the board meeting outlining the topic of each discussion as well as the most important points to be discussed. The chair of the board must facilitate the meeting and steer the discussion to ensure that all relevant topics are addressed within the specified time limit.

A productive Board meeting typically results in a list of to-do's and actions that need to be taken before the next meeting. Preparing for the meeting may include reviewing materials in the meeting, researching topics, and developing thoughtful questions or suggestions. The board must also promote the culture of accountability among its members by making sure that they follow-up on any action items or decisions from previous meetings.