Online Board Meetings Benefits
As a non-profit, you probably have a limited number of board members. Many of those slots are hard to fill because of the time commitment required for traveling and attending in-person meetings. Virtual board meetings remove the need for travel and calendar synchronization and make them more accessible for busy board members.
Virtual meetings are also simpler to plan and there’s easier to attend them. This will reduce the amount of work that must be planned ahead of each meeting, and the need to coordinate the space for meetings. This will reduce the burden of your board which is beneficial to your company’s bottom line.
Online board meetings also have the advantage of connecting and involving board members. A good technology platform can help facilitate this engagement by providing tools such as video conference, presentation and discussion via chats, and whiteboard collaboration. These tools can be used to create the same type of experience as meetings in person, while following the rules of participation and the proper manners of a meeting.
To keep engagement high, it is an ideal idea to cut down on the duration of meetings, and to take breaks when needed. It is also beneficial to provide training for board members who are not tech-savvy, and to encourage use of different meeting tools. This includes muting and boardroom polling questions, and using the virtual „raise your hand” option. Members can also write questions in the chatbox.