Effective Virtual Board Meetings

In-person meetings allow for more natural conversations and nonverbal signals, which aren’t possible in a virtual setting. With a little planning and effort, nonprofits can ensure the effectiveness of their meetings when they switch to a virtual format.

Adopting proven best practices allows virtual board meetings to be as efficient as in-person sessions. Consider the following tips to ensure that your meetings are effective and enjoyable:

Comprehensive Preparation

Virtual meetings require a more thorough preparation than in-person sessions. Directors should be provided with a written agenda that clearly defines the topics for discussion and the time limit for each. This will allow them to study any information required and prepare questions or suggestions prior to the meeting.

Share Meeting Materials Early

If you are able to easily check your social media or your email, it’s easy to forget about the meeting. It is important to send out all meeting materials documents, information, and other materials at least one week before the meeting. This will ensure that participants don’t spending time in meetings and allow them more time to participate in discussions and make decisions.

Utilize a virtual board management software platform, such as OnBoard, to give your board members access to all required items and resources ahead of the meeting. By doing so you will avoid the common distractions structure of nonprofit organization of connectivity issues and technical issues that can delay or disrupt meetings. To avoid issues like this you should have your board management software company test all connections and equipment for every participant prior to the start of the meeting.