The preparation for your board meeting can be a daunting job, especially if it is the first time you’ve been to a board meeting or if you lack experience. But, preparing for your meeting can ensure that your meeting is productive and includes useful insights and guidance from accomplished leaders and strategic counsel. The first step is to ensure that everyone on the board has received and read the relevant materials and are clear on the agenda items.
The next step is to determine the purpose of your meeting. This will the board’s discussions and decisions. Reviewing the minutes from your last meeting will allow you understand what progress was made and what needs to be discussed.
Be deliberate in choosing your agenda items. Putting the most important topics prior to the other topics allows your board to get through the meeting efficiently and avoid getting stuck on less important topics. In addition, ensure that every agenda item is clearly stated as a chance to provide information or get more information and not just to make a decision.
The agenda for your board should be sent out well in advance so that everyone has ample time to look at this site read it and review it. This is particularly crucial for physical or virtual meetings that require quorum participation. Additionally, be certain to communicate with the executive team members who are accountable for submitting reports and ensure they have the appropriate items.