Agendas are essential to productive discussions and decision-making whether your board meetings take place in person or virtually. Agendas for board meetings and other materials should be shared well prior to the meeting to allow adequate preparation and discussion. This improves productivity and ensures that meetings are efficient and effective.
The first item on the agenda of the board meeting should be an order of the meeting. This could include a greeting by the chairperson or introductions. It could also include reading the vision and mission statement of the organization. It is also a good opportunity to go over the rules and procedures for meetings.
The next step is to approve previously approved minutes, and then the review and discussion of the committee’s current reports (eg. governance, governance, finance). This section should contain the CEO’s report or executive director’s report on the organization’s progress along with a review of its financial condition.
It is recommended to reserve time for discussions about strategic planning and a closed meeting (if required) to discuss sensitive or confidential matters as permitted by the organization’s bylaws as well as applicable laws. Also, there should be time for open forums and guest presentations on the most important agenda items.
Be sure to allow board members to express any questions or concerns during each of the discussions. If a topic takes all of your time, you could shift it to the next board meeting or decide to put it on hold to be considered in the future. At the end of the meeting, it is a good idea to have an open discussion or forum on new business topics that the board would like to tackle moving forward. This is also a good occasion to announce announcements and congratulate the board or highlight the accomplishments of the organization.