Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised is an excellent procedural guide for board meetings. More Interesting 1. Don't let meetings become meetings of the bored. There is nothing worse than having meetings dominated by a few long-winded people. Every board member should have an opportunity to participate and keep discussion lively, but limits should be placed on discussion.
Some board members belabor every issue.
Board members should adopt a general practice to assign a time limit for every agenda item and stick to that limit. Each board member should have a time limit to individually react to an issue, and that board member should not be able to speak on the issue again until every board member has had an opportunity to offer their opinions. Another way to spice up and improve your meetings is to let the committees do the background work. Committees should get involved in the details of an issue. The committee chair should highlight for the board the process that the committee followed in reaching the recommendations offered.