Developing a Dynamic Agenda for Board Directors Meetings

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Boards have experienced significant changes in the past few years as they have to adjust to the changing environment. From a constant flow of regulatory changes to the COVID-19 pandemic the turbulence in the world and new technologies board directors are figuring out new ways to communicate 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 mix between managerial and strategic topics will allow your board to achieve its goals while avoiding time-wasting distractions.

A dynamically designed agenda for your board starts with the most important issues which allows your team to begin quickly and stay focused. It also includes a section called parking lot for discussions off topic that can be left until the next meeting.

When you are preparing for your board meetings, provide concise board papers and executive summaries rather than lengthy descriptions. This will allow directors to concentrate their attention on the questions which are the most crucial to a robust debate. You might want to add additional information to help your board be aware of the issues. This could include market data (such as customer retention and acquisition rates) and financials of the company, key performance indicators, or milestones in the development of products.

Avoid discussing sensitive legal issues during board meetings when the general counsel isn’t present. You must be mindful of the attorney-client privilege, which shields your company from discovery in the case of an action against a member of the board.