Online board meetings can be a convenient way for nonprofits and their staff members to conduct business. However, just like any meeting, the efficiency of a meeting held online is affected by several factors. This article offers tips on making your virtual board meetings efficient and also outlines the most common mistakes that can be avoided.
A lack of engagement
Many boards for nonprofits discover that they have difficulty keeping attendees from remote locations entertained during meetings. This is especially true if you’ve moved from face-to-face meetings to remote sessions. Meetings can suffer from low participation in the event that your board members aren’t accustomed to interacting via video, or if they are struggling with the technology itself.
Committee reports are usually the least engaging parts of the agenda, and it’s difficult to convince attendees to engage in discussion about them during a virtual meeting. To combat this, ask your committee chairpersons to include a question or ask for feedback from the board in their reports.
Inadequate meeting minutes
The designated minutes-takers on your board are responsible for 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 should seek to achieve an appropriate balance between thoroughness and simplicity. It is crucial to record your minutes verbatim and have a system for storing all documents safely including governing documents as well as financial reports. This will help avoid confusion and increase accountability.