The remote board meeting is a crucial part of the decision-making process of a non-profit. It permits a more thorough discussion of the strategic choices that the organization will take in the short and over the long run, while also giving members the chance to discuss any issues they might have. However it can be a challenge to conduct a productive remote board meeting that yields results when you’re not in the same room as your colleagues.
Participants can easily get distracted when they are in virtual meetings. This is particularly true when they are focused on their tablet or laptop screens and not interacting face-to-face with other members of the board. In addition, it’s sometimes difficult to communicate non-verbal signals in the digital environment which can result in confusion and inconsistencies when making decisions.
There are some ways you can aid in reducing these issues, for example, sending reminder emails with both the call details and the agenda, and urging attendees to conduct a technical check prior to the start of the meeting to ensure they’re able see clearly, and communicate clearly. It’s also possible to provide an instructional video to assist attendees in understanding the meeting system’s hardware and software settings.
Another tactic is to try to keep your meetings as short as you can, particularly if you’re a virtual board to lessen the possibility of “zoom fatigue” developing. This will allow your attendees to remain interested and give them the time to concentrate on their work rather than worrying about how much more they’ll have to complete prior to the next meeting.