Board Meetings - Blog - iBabs

The Chartered Governance Institute says it is “essential that boards conduct their meetings with a view to optimising the use of the time and intellectual capital of their members.” Due to the expertise required for a person to serve on a board, there are high expectations of how they behave in a board meeting setting. This is why a board meeting protocol tends to be based more in tradition and formality than similar documents for other types of meetings. This formality is borne out of respect for the other members of the board. They are all members of the board […]

Board members are often the most experienced and savvy members of any business. They help push the business forward and make critical decisions. As directors, they also have legal obligations and fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of the company.  They naturally have busy schedules and take time out to support your organisation. In turn, it’s expected that you’ll maximise their use of time and expertise. They may have professional and/or personal obligations and schedules that it’s important to abide by. So, instead of organising meetings at arbitrary times and taking up to a whole day (including travelling […]

If you’re not entirely sure what board papers are, let’s start there. Board papers outline key information on the discussion points, decisions and actions required for a board meeting and are usually a few pages in length. This is not to be confused with board minutes, which are different. Generally speaking, guidelines for a board paper include: An executive summary Recommendations Background information and context Discussion points and actions Board papers are a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to governance, giving the key decision-makers the information they need and keeping board meetings as structured and effective as […]

If and when the time comes to take executive session minutes, they must be treated separately from the minutes of the main meeting before or after which the executive session occurs. This is a type of confidential meeting that doesn’t tend to involve ‘outsiders’. In this case, outsiders are considered those that aren’t members of the board, such as staff or advisors, but this can vary. However, unless explicitly stated, minutes should still be taken to keep a record of the session. Let’s take a look at what the process is in this scenario and how executive session minutes differ […]

Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection. Mark Twain, writer If we could name just one way to evolve your corporate governance, it would be continuous improvement. A strong board that is always looking for ways to finesse its operations can help to instil healthy workplace culture and environment from the top down.  With this in mind, let’s look at the ten steps your board can take to improve its corporate governance.  1. Look Beyond Compliance Compliance is a major consideration for the board. They should ensure the organisation conforms to the local legislation, rules, codes of practice and the […]

A unanimous consent board resolution allows boards to take decisions on vitally important matters at any time, rather than simply waiting for the next board meeting. This article explains what a unanimous consent board resolution, also known as ‘unanimous written consent’ or simply ‘unanimous consent’, is, when it is used and how to prepare it. What Does A Unanimous Consent Board Resolution Mean? Unanimous consent board resolution is a form of voting used by boards to take decisions on certain matters. It involves all directors voting the same way to pass the resolution and can occur during the board meeting, […]

Whether your organisation’s board meets every month or twice a year, it is important to document the outcome of your board meetings properly. What the board decides can have a significant effect on the future of the business, so the board resolution is a crucial document. That’s where a good board resolution template comes in. But first things first. What is a Board Resolution?  The board resolution forms part of the board meeting minutes and is a document that accurately reports the decisions and the votes that boards of directors take. It is a formal document and is used to […]

Calling a meeting is the act of announcing that it will take place and inviting the relevant parties to attend. The proper procedure for calling a meeting depends on two main factors:  The company’s articles of association. The law in the country in which the company is based.  Although the rules in the articles of association cannot contradict the law in that territory, they can add in extra requirements specific to that business and how it calls both board meetings and general meetings (for shareholders and members).  The act of calling a meeting alerts shareholders or board members to the […]