How to Write a Board Report Before Your Next Board Meeting

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It’s the day before your board’s meeting and you realize you haven’t completed your board report yet. There are three pages detailing all your findings since the last meeting, and you’re in need of input from other staff members to wrap the report before the meeting. You’re concerned that if your board is aware it’s not done, they won’t be willing to give it the time it deserves at the meeting.

The purpose of the creation of a board report is to help your board make informed decisions about your company or organization. To achieve this they will require the appropriate information at the appropriate time. This means that you should anticipate their concerns before they even arise. You must have the data you require in your arsenal, whether they want to inquire about the past performance or future prospects.

Make sure to include the key metrics that you’ve agreed with your board prior to the meeting. They could be non-financial or financial, such as new user enrollments, rates of hiring or product information, or patent applications. Make sure you provide background and context behind these metrics as well. Charts and graphs can aid your audience in understanding of the numbers quickly. It is important to present both sides of the story when it comes down to the success or risk of your business. A biased view can affect the board’s decisions, and lead them to make a bad decision that could hurt your business.

Then, proofread your report thoroughly. A mistake or error will irritate your board members. It is recommended that someone who can proofread your report, and/or use grammar-checking software to catch any errors prior to sending it.