I met with a mentor today who is gracious enough to meet with me every month and talk through any any questions I have.

Today I asked him "If you were on our board, what would you first ask us?" Here are some of his questions:

• What are you strategic objectives? How are you measuring those?

• What is your 3-5 year vision and goals?

• What is your 1 year vision and goals?

• What are your financial & capital plans to reach your goals?

• Based on your goals, I'll need a quarterly report stating the widgets (like "number of accounts") you need to reach your goals.

• What are your big 3 things you're measuring leadership on? He uses quality, finances, and strategy.

  • How are you measuring quality?

  • How are you measuring strategy?

He and I have talked about this things many many times, but its good to put them in the context of the board.

Whether you have a board or not, answering these questions will make you a better business leader and help your company grow.