The 5-minute agenda item for your October board meeting
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Hi Reader, October board meetings get crowded fast. Committee reports, budget updates, and then "year-end fundraising" lands at the bottom of the agenda with about two minutes left before people start checking their phones. It's a shame though because the fall board meeting is the board's help with year-end has to get lined up. So here's what I'd do: add a 5-minute item called "Year-End Commitments" (5 minutes, max!). Put it first, not last Move it into the first 15 minutes of the meeting, while everyone is still focused. If the meeting starts at 6:00, I'd schedule it for 6:10. Give it a specific time on the agenda so it can't get bumped by whatever runs long. Hand everyone the same short menu Instead of "please help with year-end," give each board member four options and ask them to pick one:
The key here is that the ask is small and specific. Most board members will say yes to one thing. Far fewer say yes to "help with fundraising." Ask each person to say their pick out loud, and write it down where everyone can see it. Saying it in front of the group is what makes it stick. A board of 10 takes about 30 seconds per person, which is where the 5 minutes comes from (and don't forget to follow up with a recap within 24 hours!) Don't worry if your board isn't used to this. Even if only half of them follow through, that's more than you'd get from a general reminder! And if you want a more in-depth Board Meeting Packet, you can buy it for less than the price of a Chipotle bowl and be done with it in minutes!
Try this at your next meeting and let me know how it goes! Cheers, |