While remote working was once considered a temporary solution online board meeting to aid organizations in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have now transitioned to virtual board meetings as a permanent aspect of their board member and director engagement. It takes time for boards to become comfortable and productive in virtual environments.
It isn’t as easy to create a sense social interaction or camaraderie in a virtual context like it is in a physical one. The addition of interactive elements to meetings such as breakout sessions, quizzes or even a poll can be useful in breaking up long presentations and encouraging more participation. Another issue is that going online can be daunting for those not accustomed to communicating through video conference or teleconferencing platforms that can result in lower than usual engagement levels.
It’s important to ensure that the technology platform chosen for an online board meeting is user-friendly and easy for everyone to use. It’s helpful to review the technology before the meeting to ensure everyone has the appropriate equipment and can participate without any problems. It is also beneficial to limit the duration of online meetings to prevent screen fatigue, as people may begin to become uncomfortable after staring at the screen of a computer for long. A brief agenda with estimated times for each item can aid the chair in controlling the meeting and keep it moving.