A board is accountable for making high-level decisions, not the CEO. The board is accountable for appointing and, if needed replacing a company’s chief executive officer, and for fulfilling the fiduciary duties of a company’s shareholders and stakeholders.

Thus, a well-performing and engaging board will approach staff as teammates not subordinates. The most respectable and thoughtful board members are also open to the opinions of staff members and treat them with the same respect, even if the member of the board disagrees with the employee’s viewpoint. Board members are expected to take action on issues that affect the objectives of an organization, regardless of its size.

One of the most important aspects of effective board governance is detailed meeting minutes. These minutes can help members who aren’t in attendance understand the events that took place during the Board Meeting Etiquette meeting, and can help clarify any strategies or metrics which might need to be tracked. Boards that spend the time to prepare clear, concise minutes are better prepared to deal with legal issues.

This blog post from SSIR will teach you how to make effective minutes for board meetings. This blog is a great source for anyone interested in board governance, with particular attention to not-for profit boards.