Video conferences enable remote board members to view one another, even when they’re using different devices. For their meetings, nonprofits can pick among a variety of video conference platforms, including Zoom, GoToMeeting WebEx, and Google Meet. Nonprofits can also make use of board management software that comes with meeting interfaces that allow remote participation.
The ability to see the faces of participants could encourage more interactive and participative meetings. To ensure everyone can be heard, have the chair invite board members who haven’t spoken and limit the number of people speaking at a time. This ensures that no person dominates the discussion and facilitates a more balanced process of decision making. To reduce background noise ask participants to turn off their mobile phones and use the muted button when not speaking.
Some directors will be unfamiliar with a virtual meeting environment and are hesitant to speak up, which limits their engagement and the effectiveness of the meeting. This can be addressed with an interface that is easy to use for meetings, a training session that familiarizes attendees with the software, and letting participants to practice prior to the meeting. The board can also develop an agenda that is strictly adhered to, with deadlines for each item. This will ensure that the meeting goes smoothly and that the intended www.board-room.blog/how-characteristics-of-board-of-directors-affect-companys-performance/ outcome is accomplished. Board members can highlight and make notes on documents that are digital to improve their participation and speed up the meetings. They can share their notes with other members to encourage collaboration and improve the quality of their minutes.