A well-written agenda is necessary for a productive and successful board meeting. A strong agenda is an outline for discussion and taking decisions, and enables everyone in the meeting with a clear knowing what was discussed and taken a decision. An effective board meeting agenda can allow you to quickly move between meetings without getting bogged down in the details and make your meetings more engaging for everyone.
Begin with the most crucial items. Start with the most important items on your agenda. This lets the leader gather feedback and start discussions when attendees are still fresh in their minds. This can motivate attendees to arrive early because they are aware that the most interesting discussions will begin right away.
Examine all the reports submitted by committees, board members, and executives. This is crucial to ensure that any necessary follow-ups are taken care of. It will also prevent wasting meeting time reviewing old business issues that should have been discussed by the various committees of the board.
Make sure you have enough time for strategic planning and discussions. This is crucial to the board’s capability to lead the organization effectively. Make sure you include an area for “old business” and “new business,” so that the board can review all relevant follow-ups and propose new strategies.
Long reports and other routine matters can slow down meetings and distract board members away from the most important issues. Using the “parking lot” or “consent agenda” can help reduce the amount of time devoted to these items.