A presentation for a board meeting differs from a typical presentation due to the time constraints and the requirement for unanimity. Board members hold the most stake in the success of the company and their decisions have profound implications for the business. To make the right decision, they require all relevant information at hand in the shortest time possible and with all risks taken into account. It is crucial to know what the board wants to achieve by presenting and why your presentation must be geared towards achieving this purpose.
The best method to do this is to put your most important data points in context. For example it’s not enough simply provide the conversion rate of a brand new product, it’s also important to provide the board an understanding of how it compares to expectations or industry norms. If your board can draw right conclusions from the data they’re looking for it will be easier for them to trust your recommendations or vision for the future.
Before you present to the board, spend some time learning about their backgrounds and the types of topics they are interested in. This will allow you to anticipate the questions they may ask and incorporate them into your presentation or prepare with a thoughtful answer for an Q&A at the end of your presentation. I’ve seen presentations where the presenter attempted to guess the exact question but if they get it wrong, it could be a huge blow to their credibility.