The flu epidemic has forced boards of non-profit organizations to make difficult choices and engage the community from a distance. Effective communication between boards via virtual meetings is more crucial than ever. Luckily, there are a few steps to to improve remote meetings.
Make sure that everyone has the agenda as well as any relevant documents well in advance. This will help them plan and participate in productive discussion.
Use a video conferencing program with excellent audio and video quality, and also a feature that allows you to record meetings. You should be able to easily share the link to the meeting with anyone who is unable to attend the meeting or needs to look over the materials later.
Encourage participants to speak clearly on their video camera. This will personalize the discussion and allow everyone to keep on track of who’s speaking. It’s a good idea to have the meeting chair visit each participant and ask for comments. Or, you can ask the attendees to raise their hands and wait for their names to be called upon.
Avoid using sarcasm or expletives in the virtual environment. They are easily misinterpreted, causing irritation or confusion.
Select a board management system that provides a range of useful tools to run effective remote meetings. They include agenda creators and video integration. It should provide 24/7 support for any issues that may arise.