Checklist for a Successful Advisory Board Meeting

It’s only early February, but we’re full speed ahead into our spring meeting season here at Farland Group. As we plan for the coming months, below are a few items we work on sooner, rather than later, when pulling together an advisory board meeting.

Meeting Dates. Board member participation is vital to the meeting experience, and to have robust attendance numbers, meeting dates should be secured well in advance.

For instance, one of our boards starts looking during the summer months at potential meeting date options for the following year. It’s good practice – members receive ample notice and can put holds on their calendars, and their meeting participation is more likely a yes, than a no.

RSVPs. While members may have the dates held on their calendars, the earlier the better when requesting RSVPs for an upcoming meeting. In the past, I would request RSVPs at 10 weeks out for an in-person meeting or virtual meeting. Now, I request RSVPs from member offices at around 12-14 weeks out from that specific meeting date.

I’ve found that it’s particularly helpful not only for myself, but for everyone involved with the meeting, to get a read on the session attendance as early as possible. More importantly, it allows our client plenty of time to fine-tune their messaging, because they know the specific audience.

Strong Agenda. Most would say the most important puzzle piece to any meeting is creating an agenda with engaging, relevant and future-leaning topics. Sometimes, topics are carried over from a previous meeting, and other times, board members are keen to voice what they’d like to hear in a future session.

Balancing compelling topics with the right timing can take several iterations before an agenda is just right. Don’t be shy – start brainstorming ideas for different sessions, potential speakers and timing for each as far as 3-4 months out from a particular meeting date.

What do you prioritize as you prepare for your customer advisory board meeting?

Related Stories

Customer Advisory Boards: How Difficult Conversations Drive Change

Posted on 04.27.2023 by in Customer Advisory Boards

One of my first jobs out of university was working in the headquarters office of a local business with several locations. In this role, I worked closely with the customer service representatives, and we received feedback, questions, and  

Continue Reading »

Ramping up Customer Advisory Council Recruiting

Posted on 01.31.2023 by in Customer Advisory Boards, Featured

When the end of a calendar year closes, hand in hand come a number of retirements and role changes in the C-suite, which has an impact on Customer Advisory Council membership. While a number of open seats on your  

Continue Reading »

How to Make Working Groups Work For You

Posted on 12.8.2022 by in Customer Advisory Boards

Coming out of Customer Advisory Council meetings, there is generally a list of action items, and areas identified for further exploration. There are many ways to follow through, but one vehicle is invaluable when it comes to keeping  

Continue Reading »

Looking Back on One Year: An Interview with Mike Abbott, Thomson Reuters

Posted on 12.1.2022 by in Client Interviews, Customer Advisory Boards, Featured

Mike Abbott is the Head of Market Insights, Global Thought Leadership and the Thomson Reuters Institute, which brings together people from across the legal, corporate, tax and accounting, and government communities to ignite conversation and debate. Mike and the Thomson  

Continue Reading »


Customer Advisory Boards

Customer Advisory Boards are powerful engines of engagement, insight, and business transformation. Make the most of yours.

Meeting Facilitation: Virtual and In-Person Boards » Taking Your Customer Advisory Board Meetings Virtual »

Learn More »

Engagement Strategy

Like any good relationship, customer engagement is a long-term, reciprocal effort. When done well, meaningful engagement leads to better business results, faster.

Engage Your Customers to Help You Stop Pitching » Getting to a Customer Engagement Mindset »

Learn More »

Understanding the C-Suite

Building C-level programs that are meaningful and bring value to you as well as to your c-suite customers is challenging. Veiled sales pitches won’t win the day with this audience. Deliver what executives want: ideas, inspiration, innovation, influence.

Building a C-Suite Client Experience Strategy » Do you Know What Your Customers Value? »

Learn More »