The Importance of Board Meeting Minutes

Taking board meeting minutes is an essential but often overlooked part of board governance. Minutes are important because they record the decisions and actions taken at a meeting, or as a legal document. They also assist in enforcing accountability for directors and executives.

For this reason, it is essential that the process of making minutes is clearly defined. While there are a range of different methods for creating minutes, the most effective method to create notes is to use a software that permits quick and efficient recording even when the board is in session. This technology can reduce the amount of time needed to create minutes, and also ensure that all information is captured.

The aim of board minutes is to provide an objective and truthful account of the meeting, free from being biased or expressing opinions. However it can be difficult when emotions are high or the board is divided. It is essential that the person taking minutes is able to distinguish their own thoughts and observations with those of the board as they record their observations.

To help with this, Bowie recommends that board secretaries adhere to a consistent format for recording their meeting minutes. This will help to streamline the process of recording minutes, so that board meeting minutes the board can take more time to discuss issues and answer questions. She recommends that all revisions of the minutes be recorded so that board members can determine the date they were updated.