An agenda for board meetings is a blueprint that sets the tone and structure of the discussions that take place during board meetings. A well-planned agenda will help you avoid common mistakes which can lead to poor decision making and derail productivity.
The first item on a board meeting agenda should be “Call to Order and Time”. This is when the chairperson calls the board to order, introduces new members, or makes other opening remarks. It’s also a good time to discuss any changes to the meeting agenda and approve previous minutes.
Each item on a meeting agenda should contain a brief description of what is expected during discussion and a brief summary of any supporting materials. Inputting this information in advance saves time during the meeting and ensures that everyone has access to key background material. It also keeps discussions on track and productive.
Prioritize your board agenda items based on relevance, urgency and alignment with your strategy goals. This will help you avoid wasting precious meeting time on things that are not relevant or of low impact. If you’re dealing with a lot of agenda items, you should consider scheduling a follow-up session or assigning the items to committees specialized in exploring in greater depth.
Also, make sure you set realistic time frames for each agenda item. This will stop discussions from being too long and allow you the ability to adjourn your meeting within the timeframe. It’s important to note that these are just guidelines, and that it’s fine to alter them as needed during the meeting. It may be a good idea to give more time to your board the next time if they are likely to ask many questions about a certain topic.