In board meetings, directors present their diverse perspectives and discuss different ideas in order to come to an agreement. These may include policies of helpful resources the company, appointments to management or even addressing emergencies. But achieving consensus isn’t as easy as it appears. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to take a major decision without the complete backing of your board members, and getting them on the same agreement can be a long and exhausting task.

The first step is to create a structure that ensures each meeting yields the highest quality of results. That includes sending out meeting materials a minimum of one week prior to the meeting to allow attendees the time to read and comprehend the materials. Many boards also hold an internal meeting of a brief duration prior to the actual board meeting to discuss agenda items.

Next, make sure the meeting’s goals are clearly stated. This helps to maintain focus and facilitate discussion, all the while ensuring that the board’s decision-making process is transparent.

Finally, encourage participation by requesting feedback at the end of each meeting. This will help identify and address any challenges in the way your board functions and keep them on track toward the goals they have set. Ideally, this should be done via surveys, anonymous polls or facilitated discussions.