Despite the current pandemic nonprofit boards should still meet regularly to make decisions. Virtual meetings are a convenient solution to increase the efficiency and engagement of board members. Online meetings aren’t without obstacles. Some board members may not be comfortable with new technology, and some may be lacking technological skills.
Virtual meetings can also lead to an absence of motivation and focus, particularly in lengthy meetings. Participants experience “zoom fatigue” and can easily become distracted by other things on their screens. It is important to keep meetings short in order to avoid this. Be sure to clearly explain the agenda and encourage the participants to take part in the discussion. You can also make use of polls and questions to keep the attention of your audience.
Another issue with virtual board meetings is the inability to discern the body language of facial expressions or gestures. This can hinder the engagement of board members and affect the effectiveness of the meeting. To combat this board members should be encouraged to utilize video during meetings to ensure that they can effectively read the non-verbal signals of their peers.
Other issues include the difficulties of recording and disseminating board meeting minutes. It is crucial to document the entire meeting, to ensure that no board members are in a position to miss. This will also allow future boards to go over previous decisions and comprehend the reasoning behind a particular decision. The best way to avoid these issues is to use a tool for managing board meetings that provides a centralized archive of all meeting materials that are both historical and current.