Developing a Dynamic Agenda for Board Directors Meetings

Boards have seen an array of changes over the past couple of years as they adapt to the changing world. Board directors are finding ways to communicate and fulfill their oversight responsibilities despite the rapid pace of regulatory changes as well as the COVID-19 epidemic and geopolitical turmoil.

Developing a dynamic agenda is a crucial element to ensuring that board meetings are productive and efficient. A well-balanced combination of topics that are strategic and management presentations can assist your board in achieving its goals, while allowing you to eliminate distractions that waste time.

A dynamic board agenda begins with the most important topics that allow your team to start quickly and stay focused. There is also a section called parking lot for off-topic discussions that can be left until the next meeting.

When preparing your board meetings, provide concise board papers and executive summaries, not long descriptions. This will enable directors to focus their attention on the issues that are essential for an effective debate. It is possible to include additional information to help your board better comprehend the issues. This could include market data (such as retention or acquisition rates) as well as financial data important performance indicators or product development milestones.

Avoid discussing sensitive legal issues during board meetings when the general counsel is not present. Be aware of the attorney-client privilege, which protects the business from discovery in case of a lawsuit against a board member of the board.

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