Online board meetings are a convenient and efficient method for nonprofits to conduct business. Like any other meeting, a number of aspects can impact the efficiency of an online board meeting. This article provides tips for making your virtual board meetings efficient and discusses common pitfalls that can be avoided.

The lack of engagement

Many nonprofit boards find that they are struggling to keep remote participants engaged during meetings. This is especially when your organization has transitioned to meeting remotely from face-to-face meetings. Meetings can be affected by low participation if board members aren’t comfortable communicating via video or if they aren’t comfortable with the technology.

It is difficult to get participants to take part in meetings via video when committee reports are the least interesting part of the agenda. Encourage your committee members to include in their reports a specific question or request for feedback from the Board.

Inadequate meeting minutes

The minutes-takers of your board are responsible for documenting all critical discussions and decisions from virtual meetings. They should refrain from describing informal discussions or personal opinions and should aim for a balance between thoroughness and conciseness. It is crucial to keep your minutes in a formal manner and have the ability to store all documents in a secure manner including governing documents and financial reports. This will reduce confusion and improve accountability.

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