The agenda for the board meeting is among the most important elements of the success of a board gathering. A well-crafted agenda will assist in focusing the discussion, reduce time spent on topics that are not critical to the discussion and ensure that all board members are fully equipped to address the issues in front of them.
Before the board meeting the executive team must concentrate on a handful of strategic topics they would like to get out of the meeting. This will help them avoid a boardroom runaway train and keep the discussion of the board efficient and productive.
The board administrator should distribute the agenda to all directors to allow them to examine it prior to the meeting. This allows them the opportunity to highlight key points and prepare questions prior to the meeting. Furthermore you can try these out directors are given a chance to submit any reports that need to be submitted or re-read.
The general counsel or a designee should also read through any management prepared board materials, to check for consistency and mistakes. They should also look for a section the names of attendees and draft resolution language for the decisions that must be taken.
In the final instance, the chair should contact any committee chairs or directors who were assigned action items from prior meetings to verify that they are on the right track. This is a great way to stay informed of any developments and to provide an up-to-date update.