Which statement is an open question suitable to start a board meeting?

• A. From your perspective, what would be a valuable way for us to spend this time together?
• B. What would you like to discuss today, so that we could focus on you and what you might be looking for?
• C. I'm curious what prompted you to want to have this meeting today?
• D. How did you reach the decision to possibly seek outside help to come in?

Answer: (C)

Opening with a question that invites the other person to share their motivation for meeting sets a collaborative, curious tone and helps establish everyone’s expectations from the start. The statement “I’m curious what prompted you to want to have this meeting today?” does just that. It signals genuine interest in why the gathering is taking place, inviting a thoughtful response about goals, priorities, or concerns. This creates a natural pivot to align on purpose and what success looks like for the session, without pushing a specific topic or sounding accusatory.

The other prompts tend to steer the conversation in particular directions or put attention on specific individuals or past decisions, which can disrupt the open, shared outlook you want at the outset. One focuses on how to spend the time, another centers on an individual’s preferences, and another revisits a past choice that might raise defensiveness. Starting with a simple, open invitation to share the meeting’s motivation is the most effective way to begin and set the right tone for the discussion.