Board Meeting Rules of Engagement

Preparation and Participation

Complete pre-reading and background work to understand agenda items.
Contribute to dialogue and deliberation with concise and focused comments.
Challenge assumptions and ask the hard questions.
Make the “business case” with your contributions, not simply opinion.
Pick your battles; not everything is worth a tussle.
Remain open-minded; approach topics and differences with a sense of inquiry.
Explore minority opinion and value all points of view.
Avoid zingers and distracting side conversations.
Say it in the Boardroom not the hallway: we’re a team and need candidness.
Stick to lay language and avoid jargon and acronyms.
Encourage and involve quieter members.
Actively support group decisions. Move on when the group moves on.
Assure discussion includes strategic relevance of all decisions.
Stay out of the weeds and details of operations.
Require invited presenters to submit “pre-read” materials to protect discussion time.

Get to the point, no speeches or long stories.
Be prepared, participate.
Be open-minded; have a sense of appreciative inquiry.
Lighten up.
Focus on the problem, not the person.
Limit side conversations, texting and emailing; step out if you must chat or take a call.
Pick your fights: focus on important points and don’t nit pick.
Support the decision…move on when the group moves on.
Explore the minority opinion – encourage different points of view.
Say it in the room, not in the hall.
Don’t rush decision-making.
Lob up ideas/suggestions – i.e.: “how about this?” vs. “I think.”
Slay sacred cows —challenge assumptions, honor skepticism and question