Unlike a CEO who handles the day-to-day operations of an company, a board focuses in the bigger picture and is accountable for making decisions at a high level. The board is responsible for appointing and, if needed replacing a company’s chief executive officer, and for fulfilling the fiduciary duties of that company’s shareholders and stakeholders.
A board that is efficient and engaging will treat staff as partners, not subordinates. The members who are respectful and thoughtful of the board listen to their staff and treat them equally regardless of whether they agree with the employee’s point of view. Whatever the size of an organization, board members are required to act on issues that impact the organization’s mission.
The precise minutes of meetings are essential to effective board governance. These minutes can help members who aren’t present understand what took place at the meeting, and can provide clarity on any strategies or metrics which might need to be tracked. Boards that take the time to make clear, concise minutes will have an more streamlined experience in navigating legal challenges.
This blog post by SSIR will teach you how to create efficient minutes for board meetings. This blog is a valuable source for anyone interested in board governance, with special attention given to non-profit boards.