Board members invest a tremendous amount of time and energy at board meetings. A few simple changes can often make that investment pay off in important ways. Make a resolution to implement at least one of the following ideas next month:

1. Supply name tags for everyone at every meeting.
2. Make a chart of frequently used external and internal acronyms and post it on the wall of every meeting.
3. Write an anticipated action for each agenda item.
4. Make sure that each person says at least one thing at every board meeting.
5. Avoid one-way presentations from staff.
6. Don\'t include committee reports on the agenda just to make the committees feel worthwhile.
7. On the agenda, have an open-ended discussion on at least one of the most important matters facing the organization.
8. Encourage "dumb" questions, respectful dissent, and authentic disagreements.
9. Make sure the room is comfortable!
10. Adjourn on time, or agree to stay later.

The entire article, written by Jan Masaoka from Blue Avacado, can be found by clicking here.