Virtual meetings are becoming more popular in the sense that they save time and money by reducing travel costs and allow board members more flexibility, or improve communication. Virtual meetings offer many advantages but they also have some drawbacks. Virtual meetings can be just as effective as in-person ones when they’re well-planned. However there are a few aspects to be considered when planning and hosting these events.
Make sure everyone has the right equipment and software. It can be difficult to keep everyone entertained in the event that technical issues stop participants from speaking to each other, seeing presentations, or using their cameras. To avoid such issues, it’s a great idea read here to provide all attendees with specific instructions on how to verify their cameras and microphones prior to the meeting starts.
Be sure that the agenda has been planned in advance to keep discussions on track. Boards can become entangled in a conversational snafu if you don’t have a plan to guide the meeting. Make sure that all topics have been covered within the allocated time to avoid attendees feeling that nothing was accomplished or that their time has been wasted.
The camaraderie and conversations that take place during in-person board meetings are hard to recreate online. There are ways to improve your virtual experience by adding exciting and enjoyable activities like breakout sessions or a test. Use regular feedback loops to gather information about how directors and members are participating in the meeting. Find out what works and what doesn’t, and what could be improved.