Online board meetings require more engagement than those held offline and it can be difficult to figure out how to bring people together in these meetings. Start by making sure that your virtual boardroom has reliable video conference, clear communication protocols and the right meeting tools. From there you can establish efficient protocols to guide your participants through the online meeting process and make it easier for them to participate in productive discussion.
Make sure that every item on the agenda is accompanied by a goal for the discussion, such as « decide a specific action item » or « spark new ideas. » This will digital instruments for the board of governance let you move away from the current issue as soon after you have reached your desired outcome, and avoid extending your stay. Setting a time limit for each topic will ensure that the meeting is kept moving.
Start with the most critical items on your agenda. When you attend board meetings in person, it is possible to discern body language signals to show when members have important things to say. However, these signals are harder to discern during remote meetings. Begin by focusing on the most important issues to ensure that everyone participates in the discussion and feels their time was well spent.
Use a consensus agenda in order to avoid lengthy discussions on controversial discussion topics that may not have the same impact on your organization. All members are able to vote on non-controversial issues prior to the meeting begins, which means you can focus on the most important issues. You might consider inviting experts to present short presentations or insights which will broaden the views of the board and prevent groupthink.