26 Nov Effective Virtual Board Meetings
In-person board meetings provide more opportunities for natural conversation and non-verbal cues that can’t be replicated in a virtual space. But with a little planning and effort, nonprofits can maintain the effectiveness of their meetings when they switch to virtual formats.
Virtual board meetings can be just as effective as in-person meetings by using the best practices. Follow these suggestions to ensure that your meetings are productive and fun:
Comprehensive Preparation
Virtual meetings require more extensive preparation than in-person meetings. Directors should receive a detailed agenda that clearly defines the topics for discussion as well as time limits for each. This allows them to look up any information required and prepare questions or ideas before the meeting.
Share meeting materials early
If you are able to easily check your email or social media it’s https://seboardroom.com/how-to-structure-nonprofit-board-positions easy to forget about the meeting. Make sure to distribute all meeting materials including documents, materials, and other information at least one week prior to the session. Doing so will help avoid participants from wasting time in meetings and allow more time to participate in discussions and participate in decision-making.
Utilize a virtual Board-Management Software platform such as OnBoard to allow your board members access to all essential materials and resources prior the meeting. In this way you will be able to avoid the typical distractions of connectivity issues and technical issues that can disrupt or delay meetings. To avoid such issues request your board management software provider to test all equipment and links for every participant prior to the meeting.