in addition the focus needs to be on providing more forward looking information apart from looking into historical costs. Check upfront what the dynamics are and prepare yourself accordingly: Will they interrupt your talk? Then give 3 to 5 key arguments or elements that you want them to remember. We'll give you advice and answer some of the most common questions on board meetings around the web. It's also great to send an email after the meeting to all board members with a summary of the most relevant aspects, including all action items that were discussed. Dont have a hidden agenda! Presentation of detailed data is not necessary, but district-wide summary data, such as the number of class-size waivers or teacher certification status across the district, would be helpful information for board members to know. Et voil!, theres your key message. Recording yourself also works great. He or she oversees the process, not you. So, pull your most significant data and use data visualization tools to design intuitive graphics. For example, if success is about board members and/or C-level executives learning about a new technology under consideration, the job is to educate them. If nobody else did, summarise the conclusion. As a proposal for an action brought in front of a board, a motion allows the group to make decisions and give a company directions on particular areas. The new Canadian factory will reduce COGS by 20% and increase our NA sales volume by 75% or. Instead, go the exact opposite route: practice. Some may operate more like a town hall, pausing periodically to discuss the points as they come up. Do they come from the finance world? If possible, call board members just to check in before a meeting. It needs to be sparse, and simply identify the topics youll cover in the following slides. This distribution should include any lengthy documents that the board needs to read in preparation for the meeting. It contains the answers to the key questions and a few selected details and numbers as explained earlier. Structure all information in an orderly hierarchical manner as a Q&A (from most to least important). A board of directors is a particularly demanding audience because time pressure, information quality and unanimity are more important than in any other management team. That dialogue makes it easier to solicit input on key challenges, win buy-in on new projects, and secure any financial needs. But when youre tasked with putting together a presentation to a board of directors, the pressures on. jsbacContactjsbacContact The board matrix helps your governance committee take stock of the current board's skills, demographics, and connections. Make the pre-reading document highly structured. Otherwise, for example, you may dive into an answer that is very specific to you when they might be seeking an answer that applies to the broader company. It is not uncommon that the discussion starts immediately without formal presentation. Here's how to make sure yours does the job. The Board Cafe is an electronic newsletter for members of nonprofit boards of directors.. Boardsource is a large site, with catalog and on-line ordering, lots of links, resources of various kinds, FAQs, etc.. It needs to be sparse, and simply identify the topics you'll cover in the following slides. For the Board of your company, LEVNAM industrial vehi-cles, this project is part of a larger strategy to expand the business into North America. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits provides lots of resources, including a model of Responsibilities and Position Descriptions for Nonprofit Board Members. Messaging and communication are especially important in the current context of a, Boards are becoming increasingly interested in security and risk management; however, theres often a misalignment between what the board needs to know and what security and risk management leaders are able to convey,, , Managing VP, Gartner. Only use acronyms they know or put the full wording next to it. Gartner Terms of Use Visually guide the attention to make it clear what to look at first, second and third. The purpose of the board is to adopt policies, hires station manager and raise funds. Which acronyms and industry-speak are likely to trip them up? A large corporation typically has an insurance portfolio managed by a director of insurance. Building confidence is one of the less concrete tips on the list to implement. They are used to measure the performance of a website and to optimize it. A presentation to the Board should be to the point: short and complete, simple and substantiated, persuasive and factual, confident and honest. Don't talk like TED, be TO THE POINT. You must summarize your talk in one or two clear, precise sentences. Suzanne Bates shares her advice about how to prepare to make a strong presentation to the Board of Directors When choosing between words and media, pick the latter. With that in mind, the next step is ensuring your slides are organized in a logical way and that they adhere to the agenda you set (and, hopefully, shared with the board ahead of time). It should be structured around those key arguments. If its been a while since your last presentation, start by practicing in the mirror. Not sure what to do if you dont have an answer to something? Download now and impress your audience. They want to make the best possible decision in the shortest possible time, while taking all information and risks into account. Risk vs. initiative and the overall risk profile of the organization 4. Tool #1: Board Matrix. CEOs should discuss market dynamics, competitive moves, environmental factors, new relevant regulation, talent retention, M&A, and company direction. Too often strategy gets lost amidst the approval of board minutes and the dissection of business metrics. The key here is to let the presentation dictate the slides, instead of the other way around. Think about the conversations youve had: What comes up most often? It feels the natural thing to do, but its wrong. But how can you provide details within the extreme time constraint? Directors at corporations are encouraged to embrace entrepreneurial risks and pursue risk-bearing strategic opportunities.1 In most common-law jurisdictions (including most of the English-speaking world), directors do so under the protection of the business judgment rule, which is the The board is also tasked with a number of other responsibilities, including the following: Creating dividend policies. 4. Advertisement. How do you do that? BoardEffect Board of directors vs Management: what is the difference? You can also get some insight into what the board cares about by looking back at your interactions with its members. 10+ Board Report Examples If you ought to create one but do not know how, then this article will give you a set of samples and templates to slay every meeting that you'll encounter. Yet, a person in this role is also responsible for getting new board members and helping with their development. Running a well structured board meeting can help you get much more from your shareholders than just financial backing. A productive board meeting starts with a well-thought-out agenda that the board chair distributes ahead of time. Simply deliver your presentation, answer the questions and be your honest self. The answers to the most important questions become part of your narrative. The more you can build your presentation around what really matters to them, the more you will capture their attention. You are well prepared; you know your stuff. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. Whats in the middle tends to get lost. Each of the criteria has been given a weight: We have identified these possible loca-tions: This is the ranking of the locations, based on the selected criteria: Conclusion: Sudbury comes out on top, followed by Ottawa and Toronto. In short, a good executive summary concisely summarizes the report's background, core findings and methods, as well as proposed solutions and actions you want the board to endorse. A daily dose of irreverent and informative takes on business & tech news, Turn marketing strategies into step-by-step processes designed for success, Explore what it takes to be a creative business owner or side-hustler, Listen to the world's most downloaded B2B sales podcast, Get productivity tips and business hacks to design your dream career, Free ebooks, tools, and templates to help you grow, Learn the latest business trends from leading experts with HubSpot Academy, All of HubSpot's marketing, sales CRM, customer service, CMS, and operations software on one platform. Time is money, especially in Board Meetings. So naturally, they will be looking out for anything that may impede that process. Im not arguing to leave detailed data out. Its your chance to get them to understand your vision, to secure buy-in on financial needs and projects, and to explain the companys performance. Send your presentation to board members ahead of time, along with your other board packet materials. Slides with high cognitive load make it impossible to read and listen at the same time. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, '013286c0-2cc2-45f8-a6db-c71dad0835b8', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Get expert marketing tips straight to your inbox, and become a better marketer. The bulk of data and information goes into the attachments (see next step). Be ready for questions regarding the data and solutions you presented. Be prepared for what might happen in the boardroom. Are they a career marketer? It all starts with preparation. So, how brief is brief? But dont exaggerate. In my opinion a pre-read should never be a copy of the presentation slides. The answer to this challenge is a meticulous preparation: Step 1 Understand and focus on the essence. Any attempt to achieve a hidden purpose will only weaken your presentation and credibility. Slide 1: Get started Slide 1 is designed to be the call to attention slide. All directors have the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns about the company's progress. Etc. Messaging and communication are especially important in the current context of a global pandemic. Board of Directors - B of D: A board of directors (B of D) is a group of individuals, elected to represent stockholders . That issue is the reason why they invited you, a problem that exists, or an opportunity that you have discovered. Its also beneficial to keep your visuals simple. If it isnt, ask your sponsor or check with the Board Secretary. But if its too bare, it will take too many visuals to paint the picture. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If there is, call the meeting to order as we describe in detail below and go over the agenda. Common concerns a board may have are: Costs: How much time and money will it require? The answers to all other questions, the bulk of the information, goes into the attachments, possibly as Q&A. Select those elements that radiate the enthusiasm, pride, or whatever emotion you want to convey. Don't forget to dress appropriately and look professional., Bringing a board meeting presentation to a session will help keep the meeting on track, and the audience engaged. But the good news is, there are research-backed techniques you can use to achieve it. It can be difficult for CISOs to demonstrate how security contributes to business performance. Monday through Friday. Board meetings typically last between one hour and two hours. This is very difficult for a complex subject, but it is essential. But dont exaggerate. Your board presentation slides should make ample use of visuals. In my experience, an inductive approach is always more effective, even if the Board has a deductive culture. And add some detailed stories that will speak to their imagination. In most cases a person from the audience is at the origin of your invitation. and BoardEffect - Board of directors vs Management: what is the difference? Here's how to make sure yours are top-notch. Understand your audience. Put in some examples so that they can picture things. Whether its a KitKat or a chocolate cake, having chocolate after dinner feels like the perfect ending. Et voil!, theres your key message. Numbers and details reassure the Directors. Special thanks to my colleagues at INSEAD IDP for their input. Thats why its important to create and present a compelling board presentationone that captures the interest of board members and leaves them feeling invested in whats next. This may look like discussing KPIs or reviewing goals and outcomes. Within that context there is always an issue. To close your board meeting, thank everyone present before you call the meeting to adjourn. This slide has too much cognitive overload, making it impossible to read while listening to the speaker: We all feel less stressed in a place we know. So, take time to visit the room upfront. But in this way, you might lose their attention long before you even come close to that conclusion. Add, amend, or delete items as needed and then sign the minutes provided by the secretary. Visually show the information. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Ms. Clarke currently serves on the board of directors of Arthur J. Gallagher, the global insurance brokerage with operations in 56 countries. If possible, rehearse your presentation in the board room. Who will ask what kind of questions? How to make a business presentation impactful, HBR How to present to senior executives, Forbes How to present to Senior Executives, INSEAD A Toolkit for Fair Process Communication. You have been asked by the Board to pre-sent the conclusions of your analysis. If you dont know the answer, say so. Make sure to understand what they are looking for. Understand what value means to them: contribution to society, sustainability, well-being, or legacy can be as important as monetary value. Create a documentation that provides both the big picture and the details. Initiate questions and discussion during the board meeting. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. If most members have a finance background, for instance, youll want to make sure you cover any financials as it relates to your presentation. The client dashboard gives you a hyper-focused view of your accounts, as well as a summary of paid versus open invoices. By clicking on Allow all cookies, you agree to the use of ALL cookies. A presentation to the. Heres a tool that helps: List everything your audience knows about the subject. As things tend to change quickly, it might also be wise to send intermediate reports. If possible, rehearse your presentation in the Board room. Nobody expects you to be infallible. ET 1.1 This paper identifies key activities undertaken by the Human Resources Directorate and the performance of the Trust in relation to staffing related matters during the last twelve months. They need to check the robustness of your methodology and the reliability of the data. Four types of reporting are needed by the board: 1. As we mentioned above, board presentations should be an overview of the companys performance and plans. A board chair's role is to facilitate a board meeting following a company's mission, vision, and desired direction. Fill out the form to connect with a representative and learn more. The purpose of a board meeting is to allow directors to share their views about the company's performance and future plans. See you in October! What is the exact scope? Even if things dont go as you expected, consider it a priceless learning exercise. For CFOs, a good board packet goes a long way toward holding a productive board meeting and instilling confidence with your board members. Best of luck running your next board meeting! Both checking facts and getting the right feeling, requires them to investigate details. Summarize the points youve made, and be clear about anything you have requested. Make sure to have answers to all the questions they might have.