Despite the current pandemic the nonprofit boards have to meet regularly and make decisions. Virtual meetings are a great solution that improves the productivity of board members as well as their engagement. These meetings online are not without challenges. Some board members might not be comfortable with new technology, while others not be proficient in technology.
Virtual meetings can also lead to a lack in motivation and focus, particularly when meetings are long. Participants can develop “zoom fatigue” or be easily distracted by other items on their screens. To prevent this from happening, it is essential to keep the meeting short. Make sure that the agenda is clearly communicated, and encourage attendees to speak up throughout the meeting. You can also utilize polls and other questions to keep the audience’s attention.
The inability to see facial expressions or body language is a different issue in virtual board meetings. This can hinder the participation of board members and reduce the effectiveness of the meeting. To prevent this from happening, board directors should be encouraged to use video during meetings in order to ensure that they precisely discern the non-verbal cues of their colleagues.
Other challenges include the challenge of recording and distribution of board meeting minutes. Recording the entire meeting is essential in case a board member is unable to attend. This also allows future boards to review previous decisions and understand the reasoning behind a specific decision. The best method to avoid these challenges is to use a board management software that provides a centralized archive of all materials for meetings that are both historical and current.
