Despite the current pandemic nonprofit boards still have to meet regularly to make decisions. Virtual meetings are a practical solution that increases the efficiency and engagement of board members. But these online meetings have their own issues. Some board members might not be comfortable with new technology, while others may not have the technical skills.
Virtual meetings can also lead to a lack of motivation and focus, particularly during long meetings. Participants experience “zoom fatigue” and are easily distracted by other activities on their screen. To prevent this, it’s essential to keep the meeting short. Make sure the agenda is clearly communicated and encourage participants to speak up during the meeting. You can also make use of polls and questions to keep your audience’s attention.
Another issue that can arise from virtual board meetings is the inability to discern body language or facial expressions. This can affect the level of engagement among board members as well as the effectiveness of the meeting. To counter this board members should be encouraged to view video during the meeting, so they can detect non-verbal signals coming from their peers.
Other challenges include the difficulty of recording and distribution of board meeting minutes. It is vital to keep a record of the entire meeting in the event that any members are not able to attend. This allows future boards to review prior decisions and comprehend the reasoning for a particular decision. It is best to use a software for managing board meetings that has a central archive of all meeting materials, both current and historic.
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