>If nothing happens in a board meeting because it’s scripted, why do they exist?

He actually answers that later on.

>Of course, you have already told them all this on the phone, one by one, so you know how they will react. They will want to talk anyway, because part of the meeting is them performing for each other, but, again, no surprises.

Except instead of only "part of the meeting", perhaps it might even be more fitting to say "most of the meeting".

Edit: and also this "Board members show up at meetings to monitor their investment and decide if they still want you to be CEO."