Developing a Dynamic Agenda for Board Directors Meetings

The past few years have seen changes to boards as they adjust to changing circumstances. From constant regulatory changes to the COVID-19 pandemic new technologies and geopolitical turmoil board directors are discovering new ways to interact with each as well as fulfill their oversight responsibilities.

The creation of a dynamic agenda is an essential element to ensuring that board meetings are productive and efficient. The right combination of strategic topics and management presentations can help your board meet its goals, while allowing you to eliminate distractions that waste time.

A lively agenda for your board begins with the most important items, enabling your team to start work quickly and stay on task. It also includes a parking item to encourage discussion off-topic issues that are best left until the next meeting.

When preparing your board meetings, provide concise board papers and executive summaries instead of lengthy descriptions. This will enable directors to concentrate their attention on the questions that are crucial for an engaging debate. You may also want to think about including additional information and background to assist your board members understand the issues on the table. This could include market data (such as retention and acquisition rates) or financial statements of the company Key performance indicators or milestones for product development.

Avoid discussing sensitive legal issues at board meetings when the general counsel is not present. The protection of attorney-client privilege is vital. It protects your company in the event that there is a lawsuit filed against an individual board member.

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