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I 501(c) You - The Podcast for NonProfit Board Members

I 501(c) You - The Podcast for NonProfit Board Members

5 Ways to Make Your Board Meetings More Effective

Aug 11, 2026 · 7 min · 8 segments

Bad board meetings do more than waste time. They can disengage strong board members and keep the board focused on administrative details instead of strategy. In this episode, nonprofit consultant…

Bad board meetings do more than waste time. They can disengage strong board members and keep the board focused on administrative details instead of strategy. In this episode, nonprofit consultant Michael Corley shares five practical ways to run more effective and efficient board meetings. He explains how to use a consent agenda, why the board chair should speak last, how a parking lot keeps discussions on track, why meetings must start and end on time, and how executive sessions can become a normal part of the agenda. These are simple changes your board can begin using at its next meeting. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction to a video-first episode! (01:40) Strategy #1 (02:33) Strategy #2 (03:33) Strategy #3 (04:33) Strategy #4 (05:28) Strategy #5 Join us every other week as we release a new podcast with information about how you can be the best board member and provide great service to your organization. Listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Amazon iHeartRadio Visit us at: www.thecorleycompany.com/podcast

Bad board meetings do more than waste time. They can disengage strong board members and keep the board focused on administrative details instead of strategy. In this episode, nonprofit consultant…

Speakers: Michael CorleyHost

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Top entities: Apple Podcasts YouTube YouTube×3 Amazon.com iHeartRadio

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈191 followers

Why Board Meetings Fail0:42 – 1:38

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:42

I have the perfect way to get rid of good board members.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:46

Run a bad board meeting.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:47

Are your board meetings boring, not engaging? It's not your board members.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:52

It's the process, and it's might, maybe even the agenda and how you lay out the meeting.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:56

And today, I'm gonna give you five tips to improve the board meeting starting tomorrow.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:01

I'm Michael Corley.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:02

I'm a nonprofit consultant.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:03

I've worked with boards for well over a decade.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:05

I've sat on a number of boards.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:07

I've been the president.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:08

I've been a treasurer.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:09

I've been a governance chair.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:11

And throughout my time, I've probably been to hundreds of board meetings, and some are so good, others not so good, and you know what I mean.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:18

So here we are, five tips, five tips that you can implement, like I said, starting tomorrow.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:24

Now, and I'm gonna assume, I'm gonna assume you have properly prepared for the board meeting.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:28

The board chair and the CEO have met and are focused on creating good purpose for the board meeting and outlining strategic discussion items, right? Because that's really important.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:37

That's why we have board meetings.

Apple PodcastsSoftware Application
90%1 mention
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70%1 mention
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
50%3 mentions
Amazon.comCompanyMultinational conglomerate company
30%1 mention
iHeartRadioCompanyCompany
10%1 mention

Meeting ManagementBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Board Governance
Board Meeting ImprovementBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Board Governance > Meeting Management
Board StructureBusiness > Nonprofit Organizations
Roles and ResponsibilitiesBusiness > Nonprofit Organizations > Board Structure
Board Chair FacilitationBusiness > Nonprofit Organizations > Board Structure > Roles and Responsibilities
Meeting EfficiencyBusiness > Nonprofit Management
Agenda ManagementBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Meeting Efficiency
Consent Agenda UsageBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Meeting Efficiency > Agenda Management
Board DynamicsBusiness > Nonprofit Organizations
Facilitation TechniquesBusiness > Nonprofit Organizations > Board Dynamics
Parking Lot StrategyBusiness > Nonprofit Organizations > Board Dynamics > Facilitation Techniques
Meeting Best PracticesBusiness > Nonprofit Management
Time ManagementBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Meeting Best Practices
Starting and Ending Meetings on TimeBusiness > Nonprofit Management > Meeting Best Practices > Time Management
Nonprofit OrganizationsBusiness
Nonprofit ManagementBusiness
Board GovernanceBusiness > Nonprofit Management
Business

Why Board Meetings Fail0:42 – 1:38

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:42

I have the perfect way to get rid of good board members.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:46

Run a bad board meeting.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:47

Are your board meetings boring, not engaging? It's not your board members.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:52

It's the process, and it's might, maybe even the agenda and how you lay out the meeting.

M

Michael CorleyHost

0:56

And today, I'm gonna give you five tips to improve the board meeting starting tomorrow.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:01

I'm Michael Corley.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:02

I'm a nonprofit consultant.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:03

I've worked with boards for well over a decade.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:05

I've sat on a number of boards.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:07

I've been the president.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:08

I've been a treasurer.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:09

I've been a governance chair.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:11

And throughout my time, I've probably been to hundreds of board meetings, and some are so good, others not so good, and you know what I mean.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:18

So here we are, five tips, five tips that you can implement, like I said, starting tomorrow.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:24

Now, and I'm gonna assume, I'm gonna assume you have properly prepared for the board meeting.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:28

The board chair and the CEO have met and are focused on creating good purpose for the board meeting and outlining strategic discussion items, right? Because that's really important.

M

Michael CorleyHost

1:37

That's why we have board meetings.

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