In-person meetings allow for more natural conversations and non-verbal cues, which are not possible in a digital environment. With a little effort and planning, nonprofits can still maintain a productive meeting dynamic when moving to a digital format.
Adopting proven best practices allows virtual board meetings to be as effective as in-person meetings. Consider the following tips to ensure that your meetings will be productive and engaging:
Comprehensive Preparation
Virtual meetings require a more thorough preparation than in-person meetings. Before the meeting, directors should be provided with a written agenda that clearly defines the topics of discussion and time limits for each. This will allow them to search for any necessary information and to prepare questions or ideas prior to the meeting.
Start sharing meeting materials early
It’s easy for people to lose their focus in a virtual meeting if you’re able check your email or social media. Make it a priority to distribute all essential meeting materials, information and documents at least one week before the session. Doing so will help keep participants from wasting valuable meeting time and allow for more time to participate in discussions and participate in the decision-making process.
Utilize a virtual board management software platform, such as OnBoard to provide your board members with access to all required materials and resources in advance of the meeting. In this way you will be able to avoid the typical distractions of connectivity issues and technical issues that can derail or delay meetings. To avoid these issues make sure you ask your board management software provider to test all equipment and links for every participant prior to the meeting.
https://seboardroom.com/helpful-tips-on-how-to-run-an-effective-virtual-board-meeting