A well-written agenda for the board meeting is one of the most essential elements of a productive and successful board meeting. A well-organized agenda provides an outline for discussion and making decisions, and allows everyone involved to leave the meeting with a clear knowledge of what was discussed and agreed upon. An effective board meeting agenda can allow you to quickly move between topics of check these guys out the meeting without getting bogged down in the details and make your meetings more engaging for everyone.
Start with the most important items. Starting with the most important items on your agenda allows leadership to receive feedback and spark discussion when the minds of attendees are fresh. This approach can also motivate your attendees to arrive on time since they know that the most interesting conversations will begin right away.
Examine all reports submitted by committees, board members and executives. It is important to follow up on any issues that might arise. It will also prevent spending time in meetings reviewing old business issues that should have been discussed by the board’s various committees.
Set aside time for long-term discussions and strategic discussions. This is crucial for the board’s ability manage the organization effectively. Be sure to provide an area for “old business” and “new business,” so that the board can review all relevant follow-ups and proposed new strategies.
Long reports and other routine issues can slow down meetings and distract board members away from the most important issues. The “parking lot agenda” or “consent schedule” can cut down on the time spent on these items.