Preparing for your board’s meeting is a process that takes time. The best boards take it seriously and ensure that their board meetings go smoothly. They plan meetings well in advance so that board members are able to accept (and sometimes, negotiate) their agendas. Board members are often very busy and serve on many boards and teams. It is crucial to coordinate with the individual members and their assistants to ensure that they are able to attend board meetings.
Another important aspect of preparing for your board meeting is to ensure that you have all the materials prepared prior to the board meeting. The finalized agenda and board packet should be distributed approximately a week ahead of the meeting. This will allow Board members look at this site to review and absorb all of the documents prior to attending the board meeting.
The day prior to the board meeting, it’s a good idea to set up a few short meetings with your Board members or their assistants to ensure that they are prepared for the meeting. This will enable you to quickly solve any issues that could arise, for instance, whether there are new slides that need to be distributed prior to the meeting.
It is also a great idea to spend some time pondering the reason you are serving on the board. This will help keep you focused during the board’s meeting and will ensure that you have covered all the relevant subjects.