Preparing For Your Board Meeting
The preparation of your board meeting is among the most important things you can do to ensure that your meeting is successful. A well-run meeting is more likely to lead to clear decision-making and a more efficient use of everyone’s time.
The agenda is the first step. The agenda should clearly state the principal topics to be discussed and the decisions that must be made. It is also crucial that the agenda materials are distributed in advance of the meeting, at least at least a week before the meeting prior to the meeting, so that Board members and participants have enough time to prepare for the meeting.
If there are any issues that need to be addressed or a lack information included in the board’s agenda it is a good idea to set up a meeting with the appropriate people prior to the meeting. This allows the Board member to discuss any concerns they have with the Management or the CEO and also to request more information to prepare for the meeting. This will help reduce the number of questions that are asked during the meeting and will help to facilitate an efficient and productive meeting.
It’s also a good idea to do some background research or investigation into any issues that may be discussed during the meeting. You can do this in a variety of ways, from asking appropriate people for more information to consulting external sources. You’ll be better informed and be in a position to ask more thoughtful intelligent questions that enhance the value of the meeting.