Tips for Making Online Board Meetings Productive
Online board meetings can be a great way for nonprofits and their staff members to conduct business. Like any other meeting, a number of factors can affect the productivity of an internet board meeting. This article outlines how to make virtual board meetings more productive and the common pitfalls you need to avoid.
Unengagement
Many nonprofit boards struggle to keep attendees from remote locations engaged during meetings. This is especially relevant if your organization has moved to a remote meeting from face-to-face sessions. Meetings can be impacted by low participation if your board members aren’t accustomed to video-based communication or are struggling with the technology itself.
It is difficult to get participants to attend an online meeting when committee reports are the least interesting element of the agenda. Encourage your committee members to include in their reports a query or request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
Your board’s designated minute-takers are responsible for ensuring that all critical discussions and decisions from your virtual meetings are recorded in a clear and concise manner. They should be careful not to describe informal discussions or personal opinions, and should try to strike a balance between thoroughness as well as clarity. It is important to record the minutes of your meetings in writing and have an organized system for storing all documents securely including governing documents and financial reports. This will prevent confusion and improve accountability between meetings.