We’ve all been there – “Glenn, we (you) need to write a board paper about this local economic development initiative, its due in tomorrow by 5pm. I’m assuming you can get on with this no problem?!”
But writing a board paper from zero experience isn’t easy. So here’s a quick guide – to save from a lot of “red pen” moments with your boss…! there is a full guide in the Executive Toolkit pdf document – links to subscribe and access are provided below.
๐๐ฆ๐บ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐ง๐ง๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ/๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด for Local Economic Developers:
๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: Assume intelligence, not expertise. Frame your proposal within their broader priorities. They’re busy; make it scannable. Remember, they might need a reminder of past context.
๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ & ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: State the specific decision you seek immediately. What problem are you solving? What’s the desired outcome?
๐๐ฑ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น: Always use the correct, most recent template. Follow all rules for length, deadlines, and submission processes.
Pre-Engage: Consult early with internal departments (Legal, Finance) and key members/officers. Address concerns before the meeting. Summarize external consultations.
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐-๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ: The Executive Summary/Recommendation is critical. It must be first, action-oriented, and summarize the entire paper’s essence in 1-2 paragraphs. Assume some will read only this.
Options, Not Just One: Present alternatives, including a “do nothing” option. Objectively analyze benefits, disadvantages, costs, and feasibility for each. Clearly justify your recommendation.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐: Include mandatory sections like Financial, Legal, Risk, EDI, Environmental, and Community impacts. Be precise and detail mitigation.
๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ & ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐: Use plain English, short sentences, and active voice. Avoid jargon. Get to the point.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Use headings, bullet points, and bold text for readability. Stick to the template.
๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ & ๐ค๐: Fact-check meticulously. Proofread. Get a peer review. Obtain all necessary internal sign-offs.
โก๏ธ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ช๐ง Local ๐๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ค๐ข๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง’๐จ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ!
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฌ-๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ง๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ธ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ: economicdevelopment.world/toolkit
#EconomicDevelopment #PublicPolicy #Strategy #Leadership #Impact
