Virtual board meetings are a fantastic option to avoid a face-to-face meeting. They are an easy and flexible way for non-profit organizations to communicate with their boards and directors. However, the transition from live meetings to virtual meetings can come with its difficulties and potential pitfalls. To ensure a smooth and engaging board meeting, nonprofit leaders should follow a few simple rules to ensure the meeting runs smoothly.
Keep the meeting focused on the agenda
In a virtual meeting it’s easy to drift off topic or lose interest in the discussion. It’s crucial that the participants stay focused on the agenda and that the board members don’t wander off from the topic. It’s also helpful for organizations to record their virtual meetings and distribute meeting minutes following each meeting’s conclusion.
Increase Attendee Engagement
It is crucial that non-profits maintain a high degree of board member involvement when they change to a virtual format. Meetings can get tense and awkward when attendees struggle to connect with each on a platform that is digital. To prevent this, it’s important that the head of the board establish a certain tone and atmosphere for each meeting and establish rules regarding participation and communication.
One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to virtual meetings is the prevention of the most dreaded “zoom fatigue”. Long meetings can leave attendees feeling tired and disconnected. To reduce the duration of an online meeting and help attendees remain engaged it is essential that presenters narrate their slides and videos prior the meeting begins and encourage attendees to take short breaks in between each session.
