Virtual Board Meetings are a great alternative to face-to-face meetings. They can be an easy and flexible way for nonprofits, to engage with their board members and directors. However, the transition from in-person to virtual meetings could present challenges and his response pitfalls. To ensure a productive, engaging and effective board meeting, nonprofit leaders must adhere to a few basic rules to ensure the meeting runs smoothly.

Keep the focus of the meeting on the agenda

It’s easy to lose track or lose interest in a virtual meeting. It’s vital that participants remain focused on the agenda, and that board members don’t stray too far from its contents. It’s also beneficial for organizations to keep track of their virtual meetings and distribute the minutes of meetings following each meeting’s conclusion.

Increase Attendee Engagement

It is essential that nonprofits maintain a high degree of board member involvement as they transition to a virtual format. Meetings can be awkward and stressful when attendees cannot connect on a digital platform. To avoid this from happening, it’s crucial that the leader of the board create a certain tone and atmosphere for every meeting and establish rules for participation and communication.

Avoiding the dreaded “zoom fatigue” is one of the most difficult tasks when it involves virtual meetings. A long meeting can cause attendees to feel tired and disconnected. To reduce the duration of a virtual meeting and to help attendees stay involved, it’s essential that presenters talk through their slides and videos prior the meeting begins and encourage attendees to take brief breaks in between each session.