Are meetings productive?
Most of the key interactions determining family foundation effectiveness take place at board meetings. Construct them in ways that build strong working relationships. First consider their timing and location. Avoid hours when people are likely to be tired or dates such as holidays, when conflicting demands might cause stress. Finally, if the board meeting is held around the family dinner table or in the living room, where everyone tends to sit in the same seat as they do during family dinners or socializing, it may be difficult for family members to relate to each other as colleagues, rather than father and son or sister and brother. Effective leadership and facilitation is critical in managing meetings, achieving goals, and summarizing take-aways and next steps. Leadership need not reside in one person, such as the chair, but can rotate throughout the meeting or the year. However, someone should take responsibility for ensuring that policies, such as the code of conduct, are adhered t
