The board is accountable for making high-level decisions, not a CEO. The board is accountable for hiring and, if required, replacing the chief executive officer, and for fulfilling the fiduciary responsibilities of the company’s shareholders and stakeholders.
A board that is effective and engaging will treat staff as a team, not as subordinates. The most respectable and thoughtful board members are also attentive to staff and treat them with the same respect, even if a board member disagrees with the employee’s viewpoint. Board members must act in a manner that is consistent with the mission of an organization regardless of its size.
One of the most important aspects of effective governance of boards is the accuracy of meeting minutes. The minutes allow members who are not present to comprehend what transpired during a meeting, and also help clarify any metrics or strategies that need to be monitored. Boards that make the effort to write concise and clear minutes are better able to deal with legal issues.
This blog post from SSIR will show you how to write effective minutes for board meetings. The blog is an excellent source for anyone who is interested in governance of boards, with a focus on not-for-profit boards.