Online board meetings are a great benefit for board members who have to travel frequently for their job. They can attend meetings without having to adjust their schedules, or work around limitations on time like quarantine times or travel costs.
There are a number of factors to consider to maximize the efficiency of an online board. Before the meeting gets underway, the meeting leader should ensure that all participants have the right equipment and software. This includes ensuring that the screen and microphone are functioning properly. It is a good idea to have a member of staff who can assist attendees. This person can help with login issues, offer technical assistance during the meeting and monitor the chat box for questions.
The board chair should also set the tone of an online meeting, by establishing the basic rules for the discussion. For instance, they could invite participants to raise their hands when speaking to prevent having multiple people speaking at the same time. They can also urge participants to use the mute function if they do not want to be heard, or are not actively engaged in the discussion. They can also ask that speakers identify themselves before speaking to https://www.yourboardmeeting.org/pros-and-cons-of-the-online-board-meeting avoid confusion over who is speaking.
Finally, it is important to have an agenda written for an online board meeting to ensure that everyone knows what is to be discussed and where the meeting is headed. It is also a good idea to send it to participants in advance in order to help them prepare their questions and answer.