Do you spend time at board meetings watching the clock? Try using these tips to trim your board meetings. You will be amazed how fast time will fly and how much can be accomplished.

Prepare an agenda and distribute it at the beginning of the meeting and/or email it to participants prior to the meeting. The agenda should include the basic items for approval, decisions or action to be taken at the meeting. Once the agenda has been written, stick to it.

Include the approximate time allotted for each item to be discussed. Remember, in order for the meeting to end on time you must start on time. If board members know that the meeting will start promptly at the scheduled time, they will be less likely to be late.

All board members should be prepared to make informative decisions on items to be discussed prior to the meeting. It helps to distribute the meeting agenda before the meeting, circulate the minutes from the prior board meeting, prepare the financial report, and distribute correspondence, etc., so board members will be prepared to discuss all agenda items at the meeting.

No new business is to be discussed unless it is on the agenda. If someone wants to discuss a new issue, that person should see to it that it is put on the meeting agenda in advance.

Do not allow any chit chat. Many board members forget that their meeting is not a social gathering. Rather, it is an opportunity for them to make decisions on behalf of the organization. Socialize after — not during — the meeting.

Follow Robert’s Rules of Order as much as possible. Robert’s Rules will eliminate a lot of needless talk.