Effective Virtual Board Meetings

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Board meetings in person provide more opportunities for conversation and non-verbal signals which aren’t able to be replicated in a virtual setting. With some effort and planning, nonprofits can still maintain an effective meeting environment when switching to a digital format.

The adoption of best practices proven to work makes it possible for virtual board meetings to be as efficient as those held in person. Follow these suggestions to ensure that your meetings are successful and entertaining:

Comprehensive Preparation

Virtual meetings require more thorough preparation than meetings in person. Before the meeting, directors must receive an agenda that clearly defines the discussions topics and the time limit for each. This will allow them to study any information needed and prepare questions or suggestions prior to the meeting.

Make sure you have meeting materials available early

If you are able to easily check your Facebook or email accounts, it’s easy to lose track of the meeting. Make it a priority to send out all the important meeting materials, information and documents at a minimum of one week before the session. This will ensure that participants don’t having to attend meetings for too long and allow them more time to take part in discussions and take decisions.

Utilize a virtual board management software platform, like OnBoard, to provide your board members with access to all the necessary items and resources ahead of the meeting. You can stay clear of the distractions caused by connectivity issues and technical issues that could delay meetings or even canceled. To avoid problems like these make sure you ask your board management software provider to test all the equipment and links for each participant prior to the meeting.