Online board meetings are a great solution for nonprofit boards that are unable to meet in person due geographical limitations, travel costs or busy schedules. However, they can be difficult to conduct in a way that is efficient and makes sure everyone feels at ease and feels included. Fortunately, following some basic best practices can make these virtual meetings more effective and efficient.
Before the conference call, make sure to clearly communicate all materials for the meeting to board members so that they can read them and then submit their questions. This allows the meeting to move more quickly, be more focused and generate better insights. Mentimeter is a powerful presentation tool that enables you to gather valuable insights from your participants via dynamic images. The information will be included in the minutes of the meeting, thereby providing an irrefutable record that can be used years afterward.
Encourage participants to use their cameras to be able to see one another. This will keep everyone entertained. Also, set guidelines that allow everyone to take part equally, such as the chair asking for a raised hand to know when someone is speaking or requesting that people utilize their mute buttons when not speaking. It’s also a good idea to limit meetings to http://boardmgmt.net/ways-of-increasing-productivity-and-decreasing-administrative-burden-for-a-manager 90 minutes and avoid scheduling them around meals so that people don’t eat their meals in front of cameras.
Establish specific discussion topics with time-limits for each item, which gives directors a sense of urgency to get things done on the agenda and boost productivity. The focus on a specific topic will also eliminate distractions during meetings like talking with other directors or checking emails.