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Online board meetings are a convenient and efficient way for nonprofits to conduct business. However, just like any other meeting, the effectiveness of a board meeting online is affected by many factors. This article offers tips on making your virtual board meetings efficient and outlines common pitfalls that can be avoided.
The lack of engagement
Many nonprofit boards find that they face challenges in keeping members who are not in the office. This is especially true if you’ve moved from face-to-face meetings to remote sessions. Meetings could be affected by low participation if members of the board aren’t comfortable speaking via video or aren’t comfortable with the technology.
It is hard to convince participants to take part in an online meeting when committee reports aren’t the most interesting portion of the agenda. Encourage your committee chairpersons to include in their reports a query or request for feedback from the Board.
Inadequate meeting minutes
The designated minutes-takers on your board have the responsibility of ensuring that all important discussions and decisions of your virtual meetings are recorded in a concise manner. They should be careful not to describe informal discussions or personal opinions, and should try to strike a balance between thoroughness and simplicity. It is also important that your minutes are recorded in a formal manner and that you have a system in place to ensure secure storage of all documents, including governing documents, financial reports, and more. This will reduce confusion and improve accountability.