Online board meetings can be a convenient method for non-profit organizations and their staff to conduct business. But, like any meeting, the productivity of a virtual board meeting can be impacted by various 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 attendees engaged during meetings. This is especially relevant tricks to organize workflow if your organization has transitioned to meeting remotely from face-toface meetings. Meetings may be affected by low participation when members of the board aren’t comfortable communicating via video, or if they struggle with the technology.
It can be difficult to convince participants to take part in an online meeting when committee reports aren’t the most interesting portion of the agenda. Encourage your committee chairs to include in their reports a question or a request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
Minute-takers in your board are accountable to record all meetings and the decisions that are made from virtual meetings. They should refrain from describing personal opinions or informal discussions, and aim for an equilibrium between concision and thoroughness. It is also essential that the minutes are recorded accurately, and that you have an established system to ensure safe storage of all documents that are related to the meeting, such as governing documents financial reports, and much more. This will eliminate confusion and increase accountability between meetings.
