A presentation for the board meeting differs from a normal presentation because of the time pressure and requirement for unanimity. Board members are among the most crucial participants in the performance of a business, so their decisions affect of tech issues on your customer experience and sales are a major factor in the success of the company. To make the right choice, they require all relevant information in the shortest possible time frame and with all risks taken into account. It’s therefore important to know what the board’s goal is to achieve and make sure that your communication is focused on that end.
The best way to do that is by putting your most important data points into context. You can’t just present the conversion rate for the latest product. You must explain to the board how it compares with industry averages or expectations. If the board can come to the right decisions based on the data they are seeking it will be easier to convince them of your suggestions or vision for the future.
Do some research on the background of the board members and interests prior to presenting. This will allow you to anticipate the questions they may ask and either work them into your presentation, or come up with a considered answer for an Q&A at the end of the presentation. I’ve seen presentations where the presenter tried to guess the exact question but if they get it wrong it can have a big impact on their credibility.
