Online board meetings are more flexible and convenient than in-person sessions. By the reduction of travel costs and scheduling conflicts, they reduce time and money. They allow a higher percentage of board members to be involved to avoid blind spots and groupthink when making decisions. However virtual meetings can be difficult to conduct efficiently. Board members can lose interest or may not be able to access the tools they require to take part in the meeting effectively. The most frequent problems that can affect meetings are bad audio and video quality, unreliable Internet connectivity, and distracting sounds.
Discussions must be kept moving
It’s much easier to unwind in a remote setting than during a face-toface meeting. They might be tempted to check their email or get calls from their children. The discussion could also get consumed by a lengthy debate or a person might forget to raise their hands to ask the question.
To avoid such issues To avoid these issues, it is essential to have clear guidelines for participation. Board members can support one another by encouraging collaboration throughout the discussion and by asking for feedback regularly and creating openings to allow members to speak. It’s also essential to set a clear agenda ahead of the meeting and make sure that the appropriate technology is in place.
It is essential to test your equipment and video prior to the meeting and invite your board members to do the same. This is especially important if you have members from different states or regions who might be attending the meeting remotely.