Board meetings in person provide more opportunities for conversation and non-verbal cues that can’t be replicated in a virtual space. But, with a little planning and effort, nonprofits can maintain the effectiveness of their meetings when they switch to virtual formats.
Implementing best practices that have been proven to work allows virtual board meetings to be as efficient as meetings in person. Take note of the following suggestions to ensure that your meetings will be successful and entertaining:
Comprehensive Preparation
Virtual meetings require more thorough preparation than in-person meetings. A detailed agenda, including clearly defined discussion topics and time limits for each topic must be communicated prior to the meeting to ensure directors can look up any information they need and prepare questions or suggestions before the meeting begins.
Share Meeting Materials Early
It’s easy to lose track of time in a virtual meeting if you can easily check the internet or social media. Make it a point to send out all the required meeting materials, documents, and documents at least one week before the session. Doing so will help prevent participants from wasting valuable meeting time and allow for more time to engage in discussions and participate in decision-making.
Utilize a virtual board-management software platform like OnBoard to allow your board members access to all the necessary materials and resources before the meeting. By doing this you will avoid the common distractions of connectivity issues and technical issues that can delay or disrupt meetings. To avoid problems like these ensure that you have your board’s management software provider to test all equipment and links for each participant before the meeting.
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