“Jessica, just give ‘em something to chew on.”

It was my senior year in college. A unique internship afforded me an opportunity to sit down with Dr. Ken Blanchard, who most people recognize as author of The One Minute Manager and other popular management books.

Someone had told him about my upcoming report to my college’s Board of Trustees. That’s when he gave me a nugget that’s stuck with me through my career: “Jessica, just give ‘em something to chew on.”

See, my plan was to report on the good. And most things were good. However, his words broadened my thinking. Of course, a Board wants to hear the good – but also the challenges. They want to roll up their sleeves and help. A report can be conveyed in Board materials. Something to chew on invites further discussion.

Dr. Blanchard’s advice has stuck with me both when preparing Board presentations myself or consulting with clients on their presentations. Consider these questions:

·      Evaluate your Board meetings. How much time is spent talking to the Board and listening to the Board?

·      How can your meetings take advantage of the expertise sitting around your boardroom table?

·      If your meeting time is consumed by reporting, then how could you share reports prior to meetings?

·      Ask for counsel from your Board leadership: how do they want to receive information? About what topics do they want to hear in the meeting?

Board members are volunteering their time for a reason. They want to help. Next time you meet, what will you give your Board to chew on?

Have a success story on how you’ve improved your Board meetings? Leave a comment. We can learn from one another.