A well-written agenda for board meeting ensures productive and engaging discussions and a strategy to discuss the most important issues of the organization. Regardless of whether your meetings are held in person or via virtual with a clear agenda, it allows participants to be fully engaged throughout the duration.

A good agenda starts with a clear and concise call to order that signals the start of the meeting and any other proceedings. This can include a brief explanation of the reason for the meeting, as well as the name of the chairperson.

Next, your agenda for your board meetings should include a short report or presentation by https://boardmanagementtool.com/reasons-for-of-usage-virtual-data-room/ the CEO or executive director on the company’s current performance and the most important initiatives. You can also include a section with the reports from the nominating, finance and governance committees.

Allocate time for any guest presentations or open forums that your company may be hosting. You should also leave space for announcements that are special or other recognition, such as congratulations, or announcements. You should also leave room for any future business issues that need to be addressed or followed-up on.

It is normal to get sidetracked by new topics of discussion, which can make your meeting lose momentum. Include a parking space at the end of your agenda where it is possible to discuss ideas that are new. It’s also a good idea to include an estimation of how long each item should take for discussion, so that you can help avoid overrunning the schedule of board meetings. To ensure that your agenda stays on schedule, if you’re unable to resolve an issue at the board meeting, shift it to the next.