Many organizations have adopted online board meetings, and for good reason. They can save time and money, while also allowing for a greater diversity of perspectives on the decisions. Virtual meetings can be a hassle to manage. They can derail discussions and reduce productivity.
Engaging remote participants is the key to a successful meeting. Use video to introduce attendees and encourage them to keep eye contact with their cameras whenever they can. Encourage participation by asking participants to raise their hand when asked to comment or questions. Also, remind them to mute themselves when not speaking to block background noises such as pets and kids. Set a maximum time for speaking to prevent one person from dominating the conversation and to avoid boredom. This can be accomplished by putting the timeframes in your agenda, or appointing one of your team members to be the timekeeper.
Ensure that Boardroom Security your board members are prepared for the meeting ahead of time by providing them with an agenda and a list with action items they’re expected to address during the call. This will ensure that your board members arrive prepared and ready to make sensible decisions. Board members should also be instructed to keep the discussion on track and to stay clear of tangential conversations that might not be beneficial to the agenda of the meeting. In addition, it’s best to record minutes of the meeting in order to preserve the conversation and be an invaluable reference for looking back on the meeting later. Additionally, arranging and sending follow-up tasks to participants after the meeting could aid in ensuring that all issues are resolved in a timely manner and that deadlines aren’t missed.
