A well-organized, online board meeting can be a great method to improve the effectiveness and accountability of a non-profit. However, it could create challenges. One of these is the lack of physical interaction among participants. This can affect how board members communicate with each other, which can have negative effects on the decision-making process.
The essential element to a successful virtual board meeting is having the right tools, education, and communication protocols in place. Choosing a reliable online management software that provides live polling, security that is enterprise-level and the capability to conduct real-time voting during the meeting is vital. It is also crucial to ensure that all the participants have a stable internet connection and know how to use their video equipment for conference. It is suggested to conduct an initial test session prior to the actual one, especially for new board members so that any issues can be resolved in advance.
Another challenge is the lack of physical facial expressions and body language which makes it harder to follow discussions and observe how others are feeling. To avoid this, the board member should muffle their microphones and turn them on when they wish to speak. To prevent confusion and noise, it is essential to have a clearly defined procedure for giving the microphone to various owners.
It is also a good idea for those who would like to attend the meeting but aren’t quite ready to do so and have a waiting Discover More area. This will ensure that attendees do not being unable to join the meeting even though it’s already in progress and could result in an interruption in productivity and detract from the efficiency of the meeting.