Online board meetings are a convenient method for non-profit organizations and tech-enabled board portals for strategic oversight their staff to conduct business. But, like any meeting, the efficiency of a board meeting online can be affected by various factors. This article offers tips on making your virtual board meetings productive and discusses common pitfalls that can be avoided.

The lack of engagement

Many boards for nonprofits discover that they are struggling to keep members who are not in the office. This is especially when your organization has made the switch to meeting remotely from face-to-face sessions. Meetings can be affected due to low participation if board members aren’t comfortable communicating via video, or if they aren’t comfortable with the technology.

Committee reports are typically the least interesting items on the agenda, and it is difficult to get people to discuss them during a virtual meeting. Encourage your committee members to include in their reports a question or request for feedback from the Board.

Inadequate meeting minutes

The minutes-takers of your board are responsible to document all critical discussions and decision from virtual meetings. They should be careful not to describe informal discussions or personal opinions, and should strive for an appropriate balance between thoroughness and brevity. It is crucial to record your minutes in a formal manner and have the ability to store all documents in a secure manner including governing documents as well as financial reports. This will reduce confusion and improve accountability between meetings.