Board Meeting Preparation

The agenda for the board meeting is among the most important elements for a successful board meeting. A well-crafted agenda will assist in focusing the discussion, cut down on time spent on topics that are not critical to the discussion and ensure that all board members are prepared to engage with the issues at hand.

The executive team should decide on a few important strategic areas prior to the board meeting. This will help them to stay clear of a runaway train for the boardroom and instead make the board discussion efficient and productive.

The board administrator should distribute the agenda to all directors to allow them to review it in advance of the meeting. This gives them the chance to highlight important points and prepare questions prior to the meeting. It also gives directors the chance to review or submit any reports they need to.

The general counsel or designee should also read through the management-prepared board materials, to check for consistency and typos. They should also check for an area that lists attendees and draft language for the decision making that is needed.

The chair should also check in with the directors or chairs of committees assigned actions items from previous meetings, to make sure data room they’re still on the right path. This is the best way to remain informed of any developments and to provide an up-to-date update.