Tips for chairing a board

[demotedreally]

I've just secured a role chairing a board. It is my first time chairing something important, to date I have only really chaired meetings, mostly internal. (can't make paragraphs sorry - enter doesn't work). I am confident and up for it, good at managing time and reasonably assertive but also completely inexperienced. Can anyone offer me any tips?

Agenda should always be: actions from last meeting, outstanding actions from prior meeting, escalation items ( the board is there to offer help, so your first port of call should always be where is your help needed), board obligations (I.e. upcoming reports that will need signing off etc), then spotlight items (stuff people want to present to you for approval/advice). Should be someone who sends out agenda and papers 48 hours in advance, and make sure someone will be taking actions/decisions in the meeting (not you). Most of all, be a firm hand - drive the behaviours you want to see.

What is your Board Secretary like and how much support will they give you? An experienced one will be able to give you excellent guidance, chair's briefing, in-meeting support as s/he sits by you etc. Make friends with them and use their expertise relentlessly!!