How to Take Minutes at a Board Meeting

Board meetings are where important decisions are made. It’s not uncommon for a company to establish its entire management structure via the vote of the board meeting. The quality of your board’s minutes is critical, and it’s vital to ensure that they are done as efficiently and effectively as is.

Having a template or outline that is based on the agenda before time makes it easier for the person taking the minutes to keep up with the conversation and to note important details. It is also beneficial to have a list of all attendees so that they can be accounted for as they arrive. This will save time and make it easier to create the minutes of the board at the end of the meeting.

Another tip is to not get too personal. It is best to keep the minutes objective and avoid mentioning personal disagreements, arguments and political opinions, as well as idle chat. Also, make sure to exclude any https://powerboardroom.com/how-to-recruit-nonprofit-board-members/ discussion about the personal lives of any individual member or if there are any stories which aren’t related to the topic at hand.

It is essential to record all votes and the person who made the motion, who voted for it, the exact words and if the motion was passed. In addition, it’s a good idea to list the number of yays as well as the nays for each item, along with the reasoning behind the votes that not taken or were not taken. This will assist in the event of any legal challenges in the future.