Running a board meeting can be difficult and lengthy at times. Conflicting agendas, confusion about the information being reviewed, running overtime, being unfocused, the list goes on\u2026<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019ve compiled a list of useful tips to help you manage your board effectively, ensuring that your board members are focusing on important issues and discussing your company\u2019s strategy going forwards.<\/p>\n
Send your materials to board members a few days in advance of the meeting so that everyone reads them and comes prepared. You\u2019ll get the most value out of advisors if they\u2019ve had a few days to process and come up with ways to help.<\/p>\n
Set out how many minutes you would like to spend on each topic. Include a layout of the various topics and the time allotted in your board materials. Make sure that for each topic you are discussing the key points, rather than wasting time updating people.<\/p>\n
Provide materials that are clear and succinct enough, as board members will have different areas of expertise and will have to get up to speed with topics that they are not as familiar with.<\/p>\n
Have a set of KPIs that you can use every time. This will help focus the discussion and provide a framework for the company\u2019s aims.<\/p>\n
Provide a financial statement with its current balance and profit and loss for the period since the last board meeting.<\/p>\n
Choose a small number of major topics to focus on in the meeting. These should be included in the board materials which are sent in advance. Try to get opinions from all the various board members, so as to have a more representative discussion.<\/p>\n
Taking board minutes can be a useful tool for reviewing any issues that were discussed in the board meeting. It can ensure more accurate and effective decision-making. Minutes can also be used to archive matters that require board consent.<\/p>\n
Follow up with people who consented to take on certain tasks in the board meeting. These can be recorded in the board minutes.<\/p>\n
A great way to make your board feel more in the loop is simply by adding them to your company newsletters and marketing comms mailing lists. Board meetings should not be the only forum in which to discuss major issues. If there is an problem that affects board members and important stakeholders, communicate these in real-time so members can take more immediate action.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The founder’s guide to running a brilliant board meeting. Get expert tips on what documents you need, how to prepare and what to do during the meeting. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":399352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[105],"tags":[],"event_tags":[],"class_list":["post-18321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startup-guides-ie"],"acf":{"hero_image":399349,"post_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Board meetings don\u2019t have to be lengthy, stressful or boring. They should and can be efficient, focused and useful. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together this guidance to help you keep your startup board meetings productive.<\/p>\n