How to Write a Good Board Meeting Agenda

A well-written agenda for board meetings will ensure that you have my company productive, enjoyable discussions with a clear strategy to tackle the organization’s most important topics. A well-written agenda will keep your attendees engaged, whether meeting in person or via video.

A good agenda starts with a clear call to order, which signals the beginning of the meeting as well as any other related activities. This could include the name of the chairperson, as well as an explanation of the purpose of the meeting.

The agenda for your board’s meeting should include a short report or presentation by the CEO or executive directors on the current performance of the company and the key initiatives it has taken. It’s also helpful to include a section for committee reports from the governance, finance, and nominating committees as needed.

If your company has guest presentations or open forum discussions, make sure you allocate time for those. You should also make space for announcements that are special or celebrations. You should also make space for future business matters that need to be followed up on or haven’t been discussed in the past.

Getting sidetracked with new topics for discussion is a common problem that can derail the momentum of your meeting. Make sure you have parking space at the end of your agenda where you can put forward ideas that you haven’t considered for further discussion. It’s recommended to include a rough estimate of how long each item will take to discussion, to help avoid overrunning the agenda for board meetings. If you can’t come to a conclusion regarding an item, transfer it to the next board meeting to keep the agenda on the right track.