A well-organized online board meeting is an excellent way to increase the efficiency and accountability of a nonprofit organization. It can also present difficulties. One of them is the lack of physical interaction among participants. This can affect the way board members communicate, which can adversely affect the decision-making process.
The key to a virtual board meeting’s success is having right tools, in addition to the right training and protocols for communication. Selecting an online management software that provides enterprise-level security, live polling and the capability to conduct real-time voting during the meeting is vital. It is essential that everyone has an uninterrupted connection to the internet and are familiar with their video conference equipment. It is recommended to hold a test meeting before the actual one, particularly for new board members to ensure that any issues can be addressed ahead of time.
An absence of facial expressions and body language can make it difficult for people to comprehend what others are saying and how they feel. To avoid this board members should turn off their microphones during the meeting and only turn them back on when they have something important to say. It is also essential to have a clear procedure for giving the floor to different owners, and to limit their speaking time to prevent confusion and noise.
It is also recommended for those who wish to attend the event, but aren’t ready to go and have an area to wait in. This will stop attendees from accidentally joining the meeting when the meeting is already underway and could lead to an increase in productivity and lessen the effectiveness of the meeting.