Online board meetings are a convenient and effective method for non-profit organizations to conduct business. As with https://protectednetwork.org/ any meeting, a variety aspects can impact the efficiency of an internet board meeting. This article outlines how to make virtual board meetings more productive and common pitfalls you should avoid.
Lack of engagement
Many boards for nonprofits discover that they face challenges in keeping members who are not in the office. This is particularly true if you’ve switched from face-to-face meetings to remote sessions. Meetings may be affected by low participation when members of the board aren’t comfortable speaking via video or aren’t comfortable with the technology.
It is hard to convince participants to participate in meetings via video when committee reports are the least interesting part of the agenda. Encourage your committee chairpersons to include in their reports a query or request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
Minute-takers on your board are responsible for documenting all critical discussions and decisions made during virtual meetings. They should be careful not to describe informal discussions or personal opinions, and should seek to achieve a balance between thoroughness as well as simplicity. It is also crucial that your minutes are recorded verbatim, and that you have a system in place to ensure secure storage of all documents, including governing documents, financial reports, and much more. This will help avoid confusion and help improve accountability.