How to Prepare for a Board Meeting

We have all likely experienced being unprepared. You walk into a meeting, having not thoroughly read the materials needed for discussion that day, and spend the time being self-conscious of your lack of knowledge. If you’ve been here, you know this is a terrible feeling.

When you are on a board of directors, you are a leader. Your level of preparedness directly and indirectly sets an example for the whole organization. In this post, we will examine how to make sure you are well prepared for your next board meeting.

1. Review bylaws: Director Point suggests that you get in the habit of reviewing the bylaws before meetings, whether you are a new board member or not. By knowing and remembering the bylaws, you are both ensuring a successful meeting and setting an example of how to follow them.
2. Go over the agenda: Summit Executive Resources explains that one of the best places to start preparing for a meeting is with the agenda. Study it, make notes, and have questions ready to go. When board members thoroughly read the agenda ahead of the meeting, it can cut out wasted time reading it during the meeting.
3. Identify the most pressing issues: You may already have a decent idea of what the most pressing issues are in the organization. Both Sides of the Table recommends writing down the top 3-5 issues, in your opinion. That way, when you enter the board meeting, you are informed and ready to discuss.
4. Review operations: How do your board meetings operate? Summit Executive Resources explains that you should know the written and unwritten rules of the meetings — things such as whether phones are okay, how long the meetings run, whether they will end on time. Taking stock of items like these will help you be more comfortable and confident in the meeting.
5. Be rested: This advice is as old as time. While your schedule is surely packed, Director Point explains that it is worth it for you to carve out the time for proper rest the night before a board meeting. Not only does rest keep you engaged, but helps generate more creative thinking during the meeting. It may be easy to let this one slip, but it is just as important as the other items on this list.

Being prepared is an easy way to ensure that you are at your best for your next board meeting. By reviewing materials and the standards for the meetings, you are setting up yourself and your organization for success.