How CFOs Can Step Up at Their Next Board Meeting

There is no more potent demonstration of this than in the boardroom.

Board meetings are high-stakes environments for CFOs. There's pressure to deliver clear, concise, and actionable insights that help move the business forward. But too often, I hear from CFOs who feel underprepared or overwhelmed when stepping into these meetings. The result? Missed opportunities to influence critical decisions and execute their team's vision for the business.

To truly step up and own their space in the boardroom, I've found the State, Script, Sequence approach to be really helpful for CFOs. It's a method I've honed through my own experiences, and it can help you deliver presentations with confidence and clarity - exactly what's needed to influence the board.

Many CFOs are experts in numbers but struggle to translate those insights into compelling, clear narratives. The result is a poorly structured presentation, often accompanied by an overwhelming amount of data that leads to key insights getting lost in translation. If board members can't see how the numbers connect to strategic goals, a CFOs presentation will be less impactful than it should be, and they'll lose an opportunity to gather support and momentum behind key business initiatives.

I've been there during my Finance days - nervous, second-guessing myself, and trying to figure out how to fit everything in. However once I nailed the State, Script, Sequence framework, I learned the secret to presenting with ease and confidence, and how to structure a narrative that connected financial performance to future planning. The typical response? Engaged board members, fewer follow-up questions, and more buy-in for my recommendations.

Let's break down the State, Script, Sequence method that I recommend CFOs use to nail their board presentations.

Their script should answer three key questions:

Here's how I like to break it down:

Start with the current financial picture – Begin with a snapshot of where the company stands today. This establishes a foundation for the rest of your presentation and ensures everyone is on the same page.

Highlight key trends or issues – Next, dive into what the numbers reveal about the future. What are the most important takeaways? Keep this focused on a few key insights. Too many points can dilute the core message.

End with recommendations – Close with specific, actionable recommendations.What decisions need to be made today? What are the next steps? By ending with a call to action, the CFO will leave the board with a clear path forward.

The right sequence ensures the CFOs presentation is logical, compelling, and easy to follow. It builds momentum and leads their audience to the conclusion they want them to reach.

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

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