A board report is a crucial instrument that can be utilized to serve a variety of functions such as encouraging discussion, recognizing the accomplishments, laying out plans for strategic planning as well as ensuring transparency accountability. Many reports fail to reach their goals due to several factors. They are a result of an inadequate structure and poor presentation.
Understanding your audience is the first step to making a well-structured report. Making clear headings that provide information with context and make it simpler to comprehend is one method to achieve this. In addition, using a mix of visuals (e.g. line charts to show trends, and bar graphs to compare different values) can help board members grasp the information you’re sharing quickly.
Once you’ve set the mood, it’s time to discuss specific metrics and figures that can be compared against previous performance. This is the perfect time to discuss any upcoming projects or needs for strategy that require board approval. You can give these projects greater significance by linking them to the goals and strategies you’ve described.
In addition, you should include an area that compares your company’s performance in the market with its counterparts. This will aid the board in understanding relative position, growth expectations and valuation. It can also provide an important insight into the perception of investors. A table of consensus estimates can reveal to the board where Wall Street is currently positioned in relation to key metrics. This is particularly useful for companies that have analysts who cover the sell-side.