A well-organized agenda is crucial for a successful meeting. It should include a mix of updates and discussions. How do you ensure that the board is actively engaged in discussions that result in strategies that will propel the company forward, rather than simply discussing the information that was shared?
Prioritizing the most click to read important points of discussion at the top of the agenda is key. This will encourage leadership to stimulate the meeting by getting to the meaty discussions early. It will establish a precedent that the meeting will not be a mere recital of reports. This will lessen the likelihood of getting distracted by new topics, or to spend time on activities that could be moved to future meetings.
After the board has analyzed and agreed on the organization’s plans, the next step is to create an action plan. This will include the identification and definition of concrete metrics that align with these goals such as net promoter score (NPS) and customer retention and satisfaction, sales by region or employee turnover.
During the discussion, it is important for the board members to discuss the pros and cons of each strategy. This will ensure that everyone is aware of the principles they accept and that the decisions taken will have a positive effect on the business. It’s important to create an environment that is respectful of board members so that they feel comfortable sharing their opinions and challenging established ideas in a respectful way.