Comments on: Board Meetings that Suck

By: Jim Hyatt

Jim Hyatt — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:36:31 +0000

Here's a suggestion: only give the board information relevant to expectations they themselves have set, and they should be expectations and standards agreed to by the whole board, not a collections from individual members. This goes well beyond merely being prepared for the meeting and showing up. Take financials for instance. What board expectations should the financials fulfill? It differs depending on the organization, but it's always the board's job, not the CEO's, to set the appropriate standards of performance.
Boards have a role to play separate from management, and not just to give 'advice'. So how does a board measure and assess its own effectiveness? What makes for an effective board? Every board should be able to answer those questions.

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Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:07:18 +0000

[...] Jerry Colonna admits to falling asleep in a board meeting during his VC days and has suggestions on how to make board meetings that don't "suck." One important suggestion, "Tell the truth. No snowjobs, sandbagging or other forms of lying." There are 10 other suggestions here. [...]

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:43:46 +0000

Thanks Martha. Ummm, I wish I could but my coach won't let me join any more boards.

By: marthalasley

marthalasley — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:47:52 +0000

Hey Jerry – I just sent your blog to my fellow board members – partly because it's validating, but also because I love your humor. I came here because I got a call from someone who wants to join our coaching for transformation program in San Francisco and she said she heard about it from your blog. How cool is that? Thanks for the moving way you spoke about the coaching workshop last month. Now if I could only get you to join our board … Don't walk to the other side of the street when I see you! xoxo Martha

By: Steven Kane

Steven Kane — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:58:22 +0000

“All the best meetings are taken.” -Woody Allen

By: jseelig

jseelig — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:48:29 +0000

Tried to go as far back as I could still remember…

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:55:04 +0000

Sure. Or you can call it Executive Session (with staff) to be distinguished from Executive Session (without staff or CEO). Which, on second thought, could warrant a post unto itself. I'm a firm believer in every single board meeting containing an executive session without CEO just so the board can have a chance to discuss things. I'm well aware though of the paranoia it can induce.

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:52:50 +0000

Kurnit made a good suggestion?! Well I'll be…;)
Ummm, Tripod?

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:48:58 +0000

Feld and Shakes…another deadly combination.

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:48:04 +0000

“t's useful to figure out earlier on who is the hardest nut to crack (or please), and keep in mind as benchmark for standard of delivery (within reason, since this can get out of hand).” Exactly right Eyal.

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:47:24 +0000

I'm too lazy to stand for a whole meeting but I like the spirit of the suggestion. Fewer meetings might work…I'm of two minds on that. I think four in person meetings is too few but perhaps six or eight is right with monthly calls in between. Some first time CEOs especially need a little extra care and feeding.

By: jerrycolonna

jerrycolonna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:45:21 +0000

Well said Alan. I especially like the “No surprises” rule.

By: Alan Warms

Alan Warms — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:56:05 +0000

Great post. I would add, in addition to being transparent – is that you should strive to overcommunicate and be transparent with your investors generally, so that when you get to the board meeting, you can spend time going through 3 or so major issues in a thoughtful, forest from the trees approach. In fact, if there are major issues, it's a good idea to talk to each of your directors 1:1 before the meeting. Nobody should be surprised at a BOD mtg, not the CEO and not the Directors – and the key is to have constructive conversations about how to make things better.

By: Scott Albro

Scott Albro — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:55:30 +0000

CEOs: Lead, don't follow.

By: Steven Kane

Steven Kane — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:34:41 +0000

Back in the days when Cabletron was a mighty force to behold, they removed all chairs from all conference and meetings rooms

made meetings much more focused and productive and concise

also, as for board meetings, an awesome method to make them more productive is to have a lot less of them. startups simply do not need monthly board meetings. quarterly meetings with occasional board calls when absolutely needed are more than sufficient, i think

By: Eyal S. Goldwerger

Eyal S. Goldwerger — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:22:35 +0000

That's a fantastic great post (thanks Fred for the referral...;).

I've found the following 3 principles to be useful when I approach board meetings:

1. Board meetings shouldn't be used for "updates" - it's the CEO's job to keep board members informed on an ongoing basis, so when they are arrive in a board meeting there are no real "news". Rather, board meetings should focus on "issues" (strategic direction, business model, financial strategy, a highlighted key operating area of current focus).

2. Honestly and transparency - essential values in life, but also critically required for constructive board meetings. Own your failures, share your successes, be humble, and feel comfortable looking the truth in the face. The truth is never hard. It's just is.

3. Format and style should match the audience - different board members have widely varying backgrounds, preferences, and personal style. It's useful to figure out earlier on who is the hardest nut to crack (or please), and keep in mind as benchmark for standard of delivery (within reason, since this can get out of hand).

Eyal Goldwerger

By: jseelig

jseelig — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:04:09 +0000

Scott Kurnit recently suggested a 5-10 minute break every hour for all of us ADD, multi-task inclined board members to fuel our e-mail/twitter/facebook/myspace/friendster/tripod addictions. It works very well and gets a very high level of focus out of the entire board — nobody feels compelled to sneak a peek at their devices when they know that there is a scheduled break just an hour away.

By: Bill Seitz

Bill Seitz — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:48:02 +0000

So you reserve time in the agenda for “substantive discussion, topic TBD”?

By: Hiro Maeda

Hiro Maeda — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:49:26 +0000

Ask the board for any opinions or feedback.

By: fredwilson

fredwilson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:22:42 +0000

jeff walker is in the house, with a disqus profile!

great advice jeff. i am going to reblog your comment on fredwilson.vc