How do you plan board business?
- It is helpful to have Schedule of Matterswhich outlines all the business of the board and sets a timetable for it during the year. Planning board business is a continuous cycle.
- The board should meet frequently enough to fulfil its responsibilities ensuring that all matters are dealt with in a timely way and agenda items are well spread throughout the year.
- The chair and CEO (where relevant) should discuss and agree the agenda before each meeting.
- You may wish to consider a draft agenda with the notice of the meeting inviting board members to submit any additional agenda items they would like to include.
- Everyone should be clear on overall objectives and scope of the meeting.
- Dedicate enough time to strategic planning since your board is responsible for setting the organisation’s overall direction and ensuring this aligns with its mission, values or charitable purposes. Day to day operations can be delegated to others such as the executive management team or trusted volunteers.
- Refer to your strategic business plan (if you have one).
- Focus on collated data and key performance indicators (KPIs) for consistent analysis and evaluation
- Board members need accurate information and data to help them make decisions so they can be proactive in identifying and addressing both risks and opportunities.
- Consider analysis framework tools such as SWOT, PESTLE, SOAR, VRIO or McKinsey 7-S.
- Invite non-board members where appropriate (e.g CEO, senior staff/volunteers, leadership team or sub-committee chairs) to report at a meeting.
- Allow time for third party expert reports if you are seeking external advice
- Look ahead – buy the time and create space for horizon scanning.
For further information on this topic, we recommend visiting the Chartered Governance Institute of UK and Ireland
For charities please see the Charity Governance Code which sets out eight key principles of governance, with added focus on digital governance, environmental sustainability and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
