Online board meetings can be a convenient method for nonprofits and their staff to conduct business. As with any meeting, a variety of aspects can impact the efficiency of an internet board meeting. This article will help you make virtual board meetings more productive and the most common pitfalls to avoid.
A lack of engagement
Many boards of nonprofits find that they have difficulty keeping participants from remote locations engaged during meetings. This is particularly true if your organization has transitioned to meeting remotely from face-toface meetings. Meetings may be affected by low participation when members of the board aren’t comfortable communicating via video or if they aren’t comfortable with the technology.
Committee reports are typically the least engaging parts of the agenda, and it is difficult to convince attendees to participate in discussions about them during the virtual meeting. Encourage your committee chairpersons to include in their reports a question or a request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
The minutes of your board’s appointed officials are responsible for ensuring that every critical discussion and decision of the virtual meetings are documented in a clear manner. They should refrain from describing informal discussions or personal opinions and should aim for a balance of thoroughness and conciseness. It is also important that the minutes are recorded accurately, and that you have an established system to ensure the safe storage of all documents, including governing documents, financial reports, and much more. This will avoid confusion and improve accountability.