Online board meetings are a convenient and effective way for nonprofits to conduct business. However, as with any meeting, the productivity of an online board meeting can be impacted by several factors. This article outlines how to make virtual board meetings more efficient and common pitfalls you can avoid.
Unengagement
Many nonprofit boards discover that they are struggling to keep attendees from remote locations entertained during meetings. This is particularly true if your organization has made the transition to remote meetings from face-toface sessions. Meetings can be affected due to low participation when members of the board don’t feel comfortable communicating via video or if they aren’t comfortable with the technology.
Committee reports are typically the least entertaining items on the agenda, which is why it’s difficult to convince attendees to discuss them in an online meeting. To combat this, get your committee chairpersons to include a question or ask for feedback from the board in their reports.
Inadequate meeting minutes
Your board’s designated minute-takers have the responsibility of ensuring that all important discussions and decisions from the virtual meetings are documented in a clear and concise manner. They should refrain from describing informal discussions or personal opinions and try to achieve a balance between thoroughness and conciseness. It is crucial to keep the minutes of your meetings in writing and have an effective system to store all documents securely including governing documents and financial reports. This will eliminate confusion and increase accountability between meetings.