How to Prepare a Presentation for the Board Meeting
A presentation for a board meeting differs from an ordinary presentation due to time pressure and the requirement for unanimity. Board members are the primary players in the success of a business, therefore their decisions have a wide-ranging impact on the company. To make the right decision, they must have all relevant information to be available within the shortest time possible and with all risks taken into account. It’s essential to understand what the board wants to achieve and ensure that your message is focused on that goal.
The best way to do that is by putting your most important data points into context. For instance, it’s not enough to simply display the conversion rate of a brand new product, you should also provide the board a context of how it compares to expectations or industry averages. If the board is able to draw the right decisions based upon the information they’re seeking it will be much easier to convince them of your suggestions or vision for the future.
Do some research on the backgrounds of the board members and their interests before present. You can then anticipate their questions and create an informed answer for the Q&A that is held after the presentation. I’ve seen presentations where the presenter attempted to guess the exact question however if they answered the wrong answer, it could be a huge blow to their credibility.