Online making online board meetings productive board meetings can be a convenient method for nonprofits and their staff members to conduct business. As with any meeting, a variety of factors can impact the effectiveness of an online board meeting. This article will discuss how to make virtual board meetings more productive and the common pitfalls you need to avoid.

Inactivity

Many boards for nonprofits discover that they have difficulty keeping members who are not in the office. This is especially true when you’ve switched from face-to-face meetings to remote sessions. Meetings can be affected by low participation if board members aren’t comfortable communicating via video, or if they struggle with the technology.

Committee reports are typically the least entertaining items on the agenda, which is why it’s difficult to convince attendees to participate in discussions about them during a virtual meeting. Encourage your committee chairpersons to include in their reports a query or request for feedback from the Board.

Inadequate meeting minutes

The appointed minutestakers of your board have the responsibility of ensuring that all critical discussions and decisions in your virtual meetings are documented in a clear manner. They should be careful not to describe personal opinions or informal discussions and try to achieve a balance of completeness and clarity. It is also essential that the minutes are recorded accurately, and that you have a system in place to ensure the safe storage of all documents such as governing documents, financial reports, and much more. This will reduce confusion and improve accountability between meetings.