A board meeting for nonprofits should be a lively and informative occasion. The best way to do this is to use clear communication that focuses on the organization's goals and mission. Meetings can be dominated by lengthy organizational updates or by passionate discussions about specific topics led by one or two people (we all know who that is). A little bit of extra attention can keep the meeting engaging and help the board members stay engaged with the goals of your organization. For example, showing a video of a customer testimonial could be a powerful way to connect board members to your purpose.
Be sure that the agenda for board meetings is planned in advance. A facilitator for meetings can help or the board members can be assigned the task of creating the agenda. Nothing can sabotage a productive board meeting faster than board members who are in a rush to read important documents while they discuss them, or even worse do not have the necessary documents accessible at all times.
Boards should not devote more than 25 percent of their meeting time to updates and "have-to's." A lot of time is often wasted by board members getting lost in the details of officers' reports, committee chair reports, and other routine items. A lot of these items can be reduced to 5-10 minutes and easily included in a meeting agenda or regular emailed updates to the board.
board-room.info/10-characteristics-of-successful-board-relationships