Online Board Meetings Benefits
As a nonprofit, you likely have a few board member slots. A lot of these slots are difficult to fill due to the time commitment that comes with travelling and attending meetings in person. Virtual board meetings remove the need for travel and calendar synchronization which makes them more accessible to busy board members.
Virtual meetings are also simpler to plan and there’s easier to attend them. This can cut down on the amount of work to be planned ahead of each meeting, and the need to coordinate the venue. This can ease the burden of your board, which is beneficial to your company’s bottom line.
Online board meetings also provide the benefit of connecting and engaging board members. The right technology platform can enable this engagement by providing tools for communication via video conferencing, presentation and discussion via chats, and whiteboard collaboration. These tools can be used to provide the same kind of experience as meetings in person, while following the rules of participation and meeting etiquette.
To keep engagement high it’s recommended data room software to reduce the duration of meetings and take breaks as necessary. It is also beneficial to provide training to board members who are less tech-savvy, and to encourage use of different meeting tools. This includes polling questions, muting and using the virtual «raise hand» option and allowing participants to write questions in the chat box.