Board members are expected to make important decisions. It is crucial to communicate the essential business information of your organization in a lucid, engaging manner. This article will guide you through the best methods for writing a successful board report.
Begin with an executive overview. This is what you need to tie everything together to your audience who is time-poor. It should give your audience a taste of what to expect and the reasons why they should read the whole report.
Next, you should present the main points of your report. Include important metrics and other information that is relevant to your business, like those that compare to industry benchmarks. Highlight any milestones or achievements that the company has made and also any issues that could affect future performance. Don’t forget to address any upcoming projects that require approval from the board or financial support.
You should also include any high-level opportunities or risk statements that the company has identified, and their potential impact. Make sure you www.boardroomlife.com/introduction-to-virtual-board-meetings/ present these with the level of information that is appropriate to the board’s risk tolerance.
The final paragraph should contain your key takeaways and a concise statement on the next steps your company needs to take. The aim of the board paper is to dictate the content – whether it’s to inform the board or – more commonly – to solicit a decision. This will guide how you compose your entire report, including whether or not you have to include an outline of the report, clear headings and bullet points for your most important messages, and a summation to analyse your findings.