Online board meetings can be a fantastic solution for nonprofit boards which aren’t able to meet in person due to geographical limitations, travel costs or a busy schedule. They can be challenging to run in a successful way and ensure that everyone feels included and engaged. Fortunately, following some basic best practices can make these virtual meetings more efficient and efficient.

Before the conference call, make sure to communicate clearly all meeting materials with board members so that they are able to read them and then submit their questions. This will allow the meeting to be more focused, move quicker and produce more insightful insights. Mentimeter is a powerful presentation tool that enables you to gather crucial insights from your participants via dynamic images. The material will be later included in the minutes of the meeting, thereby providing an archive that can be referred to in the future afterward.

Encourage attendees to use the camera features of their devices so that they can communicate with each other, which will help keep everyone engaged. Set the ground rules to ensure everyone is treated equally. For example the chair could request an elevated hand to indicate when someone is speaking. Or they can ask attendees to use their mute when not speaking. It is also recommended to limit meetings to 90 minutes and avoid scheduling them around meal times so as to prevent participants from eating their meals in front of cameras.

Set discussion topics that are specific and allocate time for each item. This will give directors a sense urgency when it comes to addressing items on the agenda, and boost productivity. By focusing on specific topics, you can also cut down on distractions during meetings, such chatting with other boardmgmt.net directors and checking emails.