In the world of board meetings there are a lot of rules. It is good practice, since it will www.boardmeetingpro.net/essential-board-meeting-procedures-and-rules ensure that the discussions are fair and productive. The amount of rules to follow is overwhelming, especially for a first-time or experienced chair. In this article we will examine seven rules for board meetings that are essential to achieving positive dialogue and results.
Rule 1: The order of precedence must be observed.
The board chairperson must ensure that the discussion stays focussed on the items on their agenda. Each member is accountable to respect and listen to the opinions of others. To speak, members must signal to the chairperson by raising their hands or standing. The chairperson should then allow the member to express their opinions. The chairperson should also follow Robert’s Rules of Order in deciding which types of motions have greater importance and what methods to use to acknowledge (i.e. raising your hand or asking permission).
Rule 2: One point at an time is considered.
Distracted by new topics, board meetings consume time and divert attention away from the most important issues. To prevent this from happening the board’s leader can include a “parking area” at the conclusion of the meeting, where they can push important topics that aren’t most important ones. The board leader could then make a promise to revisit the parking lot to determine if these topics should be included on the agenda next time, moved back to a later meeting or delegated a task.