A well-written agenda for board meetings ensures engaging and productive discussions and a strategy to address the most important topics of the company. Regardless of whether your meetings are in person or virtual the use of a well-planned agenda will allow members to stay engaged throughout the what is a venture capital backed company entire duration.
A well-planned agenda starts with an easy and concise call to order that signals the start of the meeting or other proceedings. This can include the name of the chairperson, as well as a brief statement of the meeting purpose.
The next agenda for your board meetings should include a short report or presentation by the CEO or executive director on the current performance of the business and the most important initiatives. It could also include a section with the reports from the finance, nominating and governance committees.
If your company hosts guest speakers or an open forum discussion, allocate time for these. It is also important to include space for any special announcements or congratulatory remarks. Also, you should leave room for future business issues that require to be addressed or followed-up on.
The tendency to get distracted by new discussions is a frequent issue that can disrupt the momentum of your meeting. Include a parking area at the end of the agenda, where you can debate new ideas. It’s also a good idea to include a rough estimation of how long each item should take for discussion, to aid in avoiding overrunning the agenda for board meetings. To keep your agenda on course, if you’re not able to decide on a topic at the board’s meeting, move it to the next meeting.