Challenges and Benefits of Virtual Board Meetings

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Despite the current epidemic, nonprofit boards should still be regularly meeting to make decisions. Virtual meetings are a convenient solution to increase the efficiency of board members and their engagement. These meetings online are not without difficulties. Some board members may not be comfortable using new technology, while others be unable to use technology effectively.

Virtual meetings can also lead to an absence of motivation and focus, particularly during long meetings. Participants may experience «zoom fatigue» or be easily distracted by other activities on their screen. It is important to keep meetings brief to avoid this. Be sure to clearly communicate the agenda and encourage participants to take part in the meeting. You can also use polls and questions to keep the attention of the audience.

The inability to see body language or facial expressions is another issue that can arise in virtual board meetings. This can affect the engagement of board members and affect the effectiveness of the meeting. To prevent this from happening board directors should be encouraged to use video during the meeting to ensure that they are able to precisely discern the non-verbal cues of their colleagues.

The difficulty in recording and distributing minutes from board meetings is another issue. Recording the entire meeting is essential in the event that a member of the board is not able to attend. This will also allow future boards to look back on previous decisions and understand the rationale behind a particular decision. It is recommended to use a tool for managing boards that offers a central archive of all meeting material that is both historical and current.