The pandemic is making it harder for nonprofits to build community support and function. Many are increasingly relying on remote meeting to make crucial decisions and ensure their continued existence. However it can be a challenge to conduct an effective remote board meeting without the presence of all board members.
A clearly defined agenda will help keep the board meeting remote on track and focused. Involve your board in the process of establishing agendas to find out what topics must be discussed. Then, send the agenda to all attendees as early as possible, so they can prepare. This will ensure that they are aware of the topics that need to be covered and can add anything to the agenda prior to. Using a secure online board portal to distribute the agenda and other documents will aid in reducing security risks.
Video can be used to enhance engagement in remote board meetings, by bringing a crucial face-to-face element to the discussion. In addition video makes it easier for participants to read other people’s body language and note non-verbal signals like impatience, boredom or enthusiasm.
It can be difficult for busy boards to plan meetings in person, especially when they have many commitments both professional and personal. With remote board meeting software, finding an appropriate time for all attendees can be a lot easier. Tools like SavvyCal’s free polls for meetings let you propose multiple times for your meeting and allow everyone to vote on which times work best for them. This can save you time and effort by removing the need to send back and forth emails.