Virtual board meetings allow you to discuss and gather important issues for your non-profit organization in a timely and efficient method. You can schedule meetings at the convenience of the board members, without having to disrupt their work. They also allow you to retain and attract talent regardless of their geographical location which expands your options for recruitment.
There are still a few issues with virtual board meetings, despite their benefits. The first problem is to keep your participants engaged. In the absence of the camaraderie and discussions which typically occur in person, it can be more difficult to keep the attendees engaged. To combat this, create an agenda with an organized structure and limits the time that discussion can take place.
It is crucial to ensure that everyone will be heard during your meeting, even if not one is speaking up. Ask them to muffle their microphones if they’re not speaking, and then re-mute it when they are ready to speak. Utilize a video conferencing software that records the audio and the visuals so that those who aren’t as tech-savvy can join in.
Additionally, it’s essential to have a board management software suite with secure document storage that permits the sharing, archiving, and annotation of documents prior to the meeting as well as during the meeting. This will allow your board to easily review and share important materials like governing documents, financial reports and other vital information. It will then be easy to make precise and thorough minutes of the meeting.