A well-organized online board meeting could be a great tool to increase the accountability and efficiency of a nonprofit. However, it can present challenges. One of the biggest issues is the lack of interaction between the participants. This could affect the way board members communicate with one others, which could have a an adverse effect on the decision-making process.
The key to a successful virtual board meeting’s success is having the right tools, in addition to the right training and protocols for communication. This includes deciding on a reliable online board management system that has high-level security and live voting that allows the conduct of votes in real time during the meeting. It is also important to ensure that all the participants have a reliable internet connection and are familiar with using their video equipment for conferences. It is recommended that you hold an initial meeting prior to the actual one, especially for board members who are new, to ensure that any issues can be worked out ahead of time.
Another issue is the lack of physical body language and facial expressions which can make it difficult to follow conversations and understand how other participants are experiencing. To avoid this board members should turn off their microphones during the meeting and only turn them back on when they have something to say. It is also crucial 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 want to attend the meeting, but aren’t able to attend, to have an area for waiting. This will prevent attendees accidentally joining the meeting when it is already underway and could cause loss of productivity and diminish the effectiveness of the meeting.
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