How to Write an Effective Board Meeting Agenda
A well-written agenda is necessary to a successful and productive board meeting. A strong agenda provides the basis for discussion and decision-making and allows all parties to leave the meeting with a shared understanding of what was discussed and decided. A well-planned agenda for a board-level meeting can help you to move quickly between topics, avoid getting lost in details, and make meetings more interesting.
Begin with the most crucial items. Starting with the most important items on your agenda allows leadership to receive feedback and start discussions when the minds of attendees are fresh. This method can also help to encourage your attendees to arrive on time since they know that the most https://learnboardroom.com/key-benefits-of-board-management-software/ engaging conversations will begin right away.
Review all reports that are submitted by board members, committees and executives. It is important to follow-up on any issues that could arise. It can also help prevent wasting meeting time reviewing old business issues that should have been addressed by the board’s various committees.
Dedicate sufficient time for long-term planning and strategic discussions. This is essential to the board’s ability to guide the organization effectively. Make sure you have a section for “old business” and “new business,” so that the board can review all relevant follow-ups, as well as proposed new strategies.
Long reports and other routine matters can cause delays in meetings and divert board members away from the most important issues. The “parking lot agenda” or “consent schedule” can help cut down the time spent on these items.