Set board cadence and agenda

Who this is for

Founder led lower-middle market companies with 5 to 50 million in annual revenue that want disciplined and useful board time.

The quick answer

Quarterly meetings work for most firms with a short monthly check in for fast updates. Keep a clear agenda. Strategy progress, key metrics, major risks, capital plan, people and succession, and decisions that need a vote. Send a concise preread with one page summaries and a dashboard so meeting time is spent on decisions.

The method in seven steps

Choose the rhythm
Quarterly three hour meetings. Monthly forty five minute check ins for updates and early risks.
Publish the agenda template
Strategy and plan progress. Metrics and variance. Capital and cash. People and succession. Major risks. Decisions. In camera session if needed.
Send a tight preread
One page summary for each topic, the dashboard with actual, plan, and trend, and the decision list with options and a recommendation. Send three business days in advance.
Run the meeting for decisions
Open with the decisions list. Hear the recommendation. Decide. Record owners and dates. Move on.
Track actions
Keep a log of actions with status. Review at the start of each meeting.
Capture minutes simply
Record decisions, owners, dates, and any reserved matters. Store securely and share fast.
Review the board itself
Once a year assess cadence, agenda quality, and the value of input. Adjust the format and materials.

Example

A company moved to a quarterly template and a monthly check in. Decisions sped up and prereads became shorter and clearer.

Pitfalls and fixes

Decks that are too long. Use one page summaries and the dashboard.
Meetings with no decisions. Start with the decisions list.
Actions that fade. Keep a log and open each meeting with status.

Checklist

Calendar for the next four quarters
Agenda and preread templates
Dashboard with owners
Decision log and minutes format