The epidemic has made it more difficult than ever before for non-profit organizations to run and build community support, and many depend on board meetings that are held remotely to make important decisions and ensure their continued existence. It can be challenging to run a remote board meeting effectively without the physical presence of all members.
A clear, specific agenda will aid in keeping the board meeting remote on topic and focused. Include your board members in the process of setting the agenda. This will help you decide on the topics to cover. Then, send the agenda in advance to everyone who will be attending so they can prepare. This will help ensure they have a full understanding of what’s scheduled to be discussed, and they can add any additional points to the agenda ahead of time. The use of a secure board portal to distribute agenda items and other documents can help reduce security risks.
Video can be used to enhance engagement in remote board meetings, by adding a vital face-toface aspect to discussions. In addition video makes it simpler for participants to observe the body language of others and make note of nonverbal signals like impatience, boredom or excitement.
It can be difficult for busy boards to schedule meetings in person, especially when they have a lot of personal and professional commitments. Finding a time that works for everyone is much easier using remote board meeting software. SavvyCal’s free polls for meetings, for example, allow you to suggest multiple times for your meetings and let participants vote on the most convenient times for them. This eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails and can save you a lot of time and hassle.