Let’s face it, being a non-executive director has its pluses and minuses and a big ‘minus’ in terms of the demand on our time, comes in the form of reading board meeting papers.
As a non-executive director how do you prepare for a board or committee meeting? You will of course be aware that you have a responsibility to provide not only strategic support and advice to the organisation, but how do you best balance that alongside the responsibility to scrutinise and challenge?
This month I wanted to consider what we really mean by reading the papers. Clearly there is no ‘right way’ for doing this that everyone should follow, however I am suggesting some principles we can all follow to make it easier and much more time efficient.
The Decision-Making Framework
The TGF Decision-Making Framework is a three-part process: opening phase, exploration phase, and closure phase. Being prepared as an effective contributor means reading the papers with a targeted and focused approach based on the decisions required.
- Opening Phase: Avoid Group Think and rely on your unique perspective.
- Exploration: Rigorous challenge and in-depth interrogation of the papers.
- Closure: Ensure your contributions are noted and collective decisions are made.
In conclusion, as a result of the effective reading of the papers, a board member should be able to approve confidently and decide with integrity.