Running a successful board meeting requires a dynamic agenda that includes a mix of discussions and updates. But how do you ensure that the board members are engaged in discussions that are focused on creating strategies that will propel the company forward instead of just discussing information that has already been disseminated?
It is crucial to place the most important discussion topics at the top of the agenda. This will motivate the leadership to energize meetings by focusing on the important discussion before the meeting. It also sets an example that the meeting is not just a summary of reports. This will help mitigate the tendency to be distracted by new topics and spend time on activities that could be put off until future meetings or put into appendices of the board book.
After the board has analyzed and agreed on the organization’s strategy, the next step is to design an action plan. This will include identifying and defining concrete metrics that align to the objectives such as net-promoter score (NPS), customer retention and satisfaction sales by region or the turnover of employees.
During the discussion, it’s crucial for the board to consider the advantages and disadvantages of every strategy. This will ensure that everyone knows what they are agreeing to and that the decisions made will have a positive effect on the business. It is crucial to establish an environment that respects board members, so they are comfortable sharing their views and challenging the dominant ideas in a respectful way.