How to Conduct an Online Board Meeting
Although remote working was thought of as a temporary measure to aid organizations in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of businesses have now adopted virtual board meetings as a permanent aspect of their director and board member engagement. However, just like any other new technology, it will take some getting used to for boards to feel comfortable and productive in a virtual environment.
It isn’t as easy to create a sense of friendship or interactivity in a virtual context as it is in a physical one. Adding an interactive component to meetings such as breakout sessions, quizzes or even a quick poll can be helpful in breaking long presentations and promoting more participation. Another difficulty is that going online could be intimidating for those who aren’t used to communicating via video conference or teleconferencing tools and can lead to lower engagement levels than the norm.
It’s important to ensure that the platform you choose for an online board meeting is user-friendly and user-friendly for everyone. Prior to the meeting, it could be beneficial to conduct a tech run-through to ensure that all participants have the appropriate equipment and are able to participate without any issues. Limiting the duration of online meetings can aid in preventing screen fatigue. Some people feel uncomfortable when staring at a computer for too long. A short agenda that includes estimated times for each item will help the chair control the meeting and keep it moving.