How to Prepare for an Online Board Meeting
Virtual meetings are becoming more popular as board members get comfortable with their convenience and cost savings. They also find that they can be just as effective as meetings held in person. The absence of travel and time commitments to the meeting enables more board members to be involved and improves the odds of a meaningful discussion taking place.
When preparing for an online board meeting, it’s crucial to provide clear instructions on how to make use of the software and other tools. Many of the software companies for managing boards provide tutorial videos in advance that are a great starting point for new users. Some software providers offer an “test-drive” feature, which lets users test the software prior to the meeting and fix any technical problems.
It is also crucial to communicate the etiquette guidelines for a board meeting online to ensure that everyone is comfortable during the session. You can follow some rules of etiquette, including turning off the microphone when you’re not speaking and using the camera only when it’s being recorded, and avoiding personal photos at your office or meeting space.
Additionally, it is essential to keep the online board meeting focused and efficient. Create a clear agenda and distribute it to the attendees as soon as you can. This way, they’ll have time to review the agenda and then add their own comments and prepare for the meeting. Having an organized agenda will also help keep the meeting on track and ensure everything is covered. It is also beneficial to record and distribute minutes as soon as the meeting has ended.