Online board meetings eliminate one of the most significant barriers to participation and attendance time. Meetings are shorter, which means board members can attend more of them. This alone increases turnout and reduces the risk of missing crucial decisions. However, it’s crucial to realize that managing an online board meeting isn’t without problems.
In-person meetings let participants read body language and facial expressions which is difficult to read in a virtual meeting. It’s also more difficult to keep board members that are not in the same room engaged. For example board members may be reluctant to speak at a meeting if they aren’t sure that their input will be heard. And even in the event that they do however, their voice could be drowned out by other members or background noise.
Poor audio quality and inconsistent software can also be a problem for online board meetings. It’s essential to choose the right video-conferencing platform that’s secure, accessible, simple to use and has numerous features that can benefit your business. Ask your board members to test the platform prior to your online board meeting. This will help you avoid any technical issues.
Another challenge is keeping the meeting on track and limiting the duration of discussion items. It is recommended that you set the goal for each item and limit its duration. For example, you can assign a member to lead every item on the agenda or put a time limit on each item. The goal should be to reach a decision or generate ideas before moving to the next item.
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