Online board meetings can be a convenient method for nonprofits and their staff members to conduct business. Like any other meeting, a variety of factors can affect the productivity of an internet board meeting. This article highlights tips on making your virtual board meetings productive and discusses common pitfalls that can be avoided.

Inactivity

Many nonprofit boards discover that they are struggling to keep remote participants engaged during meetings. This is particularly true if you’ve changed from face-toface meetings to remote sessions. Meetings can be impacted by low participation when your board members aren’t used to using video for communication, or if they are struggling with the technology itself.

Committee reports are typically the least engaging items on the agenda, and it’s difficult to convince attendees to engage in discussion of them in the virtual meeting. Encourage your committee members to include in their reports a query or request for feedback from the Board.

Inadequate meeting minutes

Minute-takers on your board are responsible to document all critical discussions and decisions made during virtual meetings. They should not write https://protectednetwork.org/ about informal discussions or personal opinions, and should try to strike a balance between thoroughness as well as clarity. It is essential to record the minutes completely and maintain an organized system for storing all documents safely including governing documents and financial reports. This will eliminate confusion and help improve accountability between meetings.