A well-organized online board meeting could be a great tool to improve the effectiveness and accountability of a nonprofit. However, it could create challenges. One of the challenges is the lack of communication between participants. This could affect the way board members communicate with each others, which could have a a negative effect on the decision-making process.
The most important factor in a successful virtual board meeting is having the appropriate tools, training, and communication protocols in place. Selecting an online management software with the highest level of security, live voting and the capability to conduct voting in real-time during the meeting is crucial. It is vital that everyone has an uninterrupted connection to the internet and are comfortable with their videoconferencing equipment. It is suggested to conduct an initial test session prior to the actual one, particularly for new board members, so that any problems can be worked out in advance.
Another issue is the lack of physical body language and facial expressions which can make it difficult to follow discussions and understand how other participants are feeling. To avoid this, board member should muffle their microphones only turning them on when they need to speak. It is also essential to have a clear plan for granting the floor to various owners, and to limit their time speaking to prevent confusion and noise.
Also, it’s a good idea to have a waiting area for those who wish to join the meeting but aren’t yet ready. This will prevent attendees from getting into the meeting and not knowing it is already underway which could lead to a decrease in productivity and reduce the efficiency of the meeting.