The way the board meetings are conducted differ widely ranging from formal (all names must match their titles, and they take place in a boardroom that has strict rules and procedures) to informal (meetings can be held in coffee shops or members in their homes). They may be closed or open to the public and decisions may be taken through a variety of ways.
The board members should have a clear understanding of how decisions will be taken. It can be as simple or as complex as choosing to utilize a formal voting system with a predetermined requirement for the majority.
The second essential component of a board meeting is an agenda containing all the topics that are to be discussed. Agendas are usually sent prior to the meeting so that the members can prepare and be ready for discussion. The agenda should be a good balance between reviewing the past performance and planning for the future. It should also include time for addressing boardmanagementsystems.net/what-should-be-excluded-in-the-minutes-of-a-meeting/ day to problems of the day, however it is crucial that the focus is on strategic discussions, not simply getting caught up.
It is also crucial that the chair manages the board effectively. This means that the chair must ensure that the meeting starts at the right time and that everyone has ample time to discuss all the items and that any questions are answered. They should ensure that the board is not distracted, and that the discussion is beneficial to the organisation. The chair should encourage discussion and allow for different opinions to be heard. The chair may also re-order the agenda and take items off as needed.