In-person board meetings provide more opportunities for natural conversation and non-verbal signals that aren’t possible to replicate in a virtual setting. With a little planning and effort, nonprofits can maintain efficient meeting dynamics even when switching to virtual formats.
Adopting proven best practices allows virtual board meetings to be just as effective as those held in person. Use these tips to ensure that your meetings will be productive and fun:
Comprehensive Preparation
Virtual meetings require more thorough preparation than in-person sessions. Before the meeting, directors should receive an agenda that clearly defines the topics for discussion as well as time limits for each. This will allow them to study any information required and prepare questions or ideas before the meeting.
Start sharing meeting materials early
It’s easy for people to lose their focus in a virtual conference when you are able to easily check your the internet or social media. Distribute all meeting materials including documents, materials, and other information at least a week before the meeting. This will to ensure that participants don’t waste valuable meeting time and will give them more time to engage in discussions and take part in decision-making.
Use a virtual board management software platform, such as OnBoard to provide your board members with access simplify M&A deals with data room to all necessary materials and resources prior to the start of the meeting. By doing this, you can avoid the common distractions of connectivity issues and technical issues that can delay or disrupt meetings. To avoid issues like this, ask your board management software provider to test all the equipment and links for each participant prior to the meeting.
