BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Seek wisdom & perspective

Seek wisdom and perspective from your board members.

Do not pick fights.

Board meetings in startups are intended to guide progress. Often they are learning experiences for both management and outsiders. Rarely should they be sessions of dispute. If you find your meetings ranking, you have not done enough to prepare the members for the meeting. Sensitive issues must be addressed before people enter the room. Call on the phone. Do lunches. Talk in person. Before the BOD meeting.

Startups run into surprises day by day. Unlike giant corporations, tiny new enterprises will find fresh, major decisions needed by the week. There is no time to call for a board meeting. Just pick up your mobile phone and start calling. Pop a short email so board members can respond on their Blackberries while in other meetings. That is how it is done.

Conference call meetings of the board are common. It keeps everyone on the same page with the least effort. These are half hour to an hour maximum. Crisp, focused on a single issue, decisions are made and the CEO knows what he has to do next. Don't overuse these meetings. Keep them reserved for those decisions that require everyone to meet immediately, together.

Ask your board members for their opinions and listen. You don't have to always do what they suggest. Reserve your decision for moments of contemplation after the phone call or after the meeting. But listen. I have many scars to prove the value of listening to board members (because I did not). Adrenalin, macho values, corporate political instincts all get in the way. Fear is the great enemy. Confidence is your best friend.

Wisdom and perspective are special and rare in startup board members. Treat them with respect. Get the best from them.

BOTTOM LINE: One of your greatest resources is your board of directors. Pick them wisely.  Use them well. Seek out their wisdom and perspective. Treat them with confidence. Learn how to get the best from them. When you do, your board meetings will be less fearful and more richly rewarding. Then you'll add a key element to your unfair competitive advantage.