Executive sessions are used by boards to discuss sensitive topics that require more privacy and board independence. These discussions give participants the freedom to express their opinions freely and openly without being pressured by public opinion. The article discusses the importance of executive sessions and how they differ from board meetings. It also outlines the best practices for making them successful.
The meeting chair or board member begins the meeting by welcoming all participants. Then follows an explanation of the purpose and topic of the discussion by the CEO or another board member in charge of the agenda. This helps the board to understand the context of the issues that will be discussed and avoids confusion or misinterpretations.
Typically executive sessions are only open to board members and can be scheduled prior to, in the middle of, or after a scheduled board meeting. However, Board Source (formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards) mentions that other stakeholders, such as the chief executive and selected senior staff members or professional advisors, can be invited to join a portion or all of an executive session if they are required to give findings or provide professional guidelines.
It’s important to remember that, just like any other board meeting, executive sessions must be focused on addressing items to benefit the organization. Keeping the agenda in mind will keep the participants engaged and prevent the meeting from becoming overly hot or a place to spread gossip.