Online board meetings can be an efficient method for nonprofits as well as their staff to conduct business. However, just new post here protectednetwork.org like every meeting, the efficiency of a virtual board meeting is affected by a variety of factors. This article discusses how to make virtual board meetings more productive and common pitfalls you can avoid.
A lack of engagement
Many boards of nonprofits struggle to keep their remote attendees engaged during meetings. This is particularly true if you’ve switched from face-to-face meetings to remote sessions. Meetings can be impacted by low participation If your board members aren’t accustomed to using video for communication, or if they are struggling with the technology itself.
It is difficult to get participants to take part in meetings via video when committee reports are the least interesting item on the agenda. Encourage your committee chairs to include in their reports a question or a request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
The designated minutes-takers on your board are responsible for ensuring every critical discussion and decision of your virtual meetings are documented in a clear, concise manner. They should not write about informal discussions or personal opinions and should seek to achieve an equilibrium between thoroughness and simplicity. It is important to record the minutes completely and maintain a system for storing all documents securely, including governing documents and financial reports. This will eliminate confusion and improve accountability between meetings.