Online board meetings are a convenient and effective way for nonprofits to conduct business. But, like every meeting, the efficiency of a virtual board meeting can be affected by several factors. This article will discuss how to make virtual board meetings more productive and common pitfalls you can avoid.
The lack of engagement
Many nonprofit boards struggle to keep remote participants engaged during meetings. This is especially true when you’ve switched from face-to-face meetings to remote sessions. Meetings may be affected by low participation if board members aren’t comfortable communicating via video, or if they struggle with the technology.
Committee reports are typically the least engaging items on the agenda, and it is difficult to convince attendees to discuss them in a virtual meeting. Encourage your committee chairs to include in their reports a query or request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
Minute-takers in your board are accountable to record all discussions and decisions from virtual meetings. They should avoid describing informal discussions or personal opinions and should aim for a balance of completeness and clarity. It is also important that your minutes are recorded verbatim, and that you have a system in place to ensure secure storage of all documents, including governing documents, financial reports, and much more. This will reduce confusion and increase accountability between meetings.
secure and collaborative M&A with digital rooms
