How to Get the Most Out of an Online Board Meeting

A video conference that has remote participants is a virtual board meeting. The goal of a virtual meeting is to make it more accessible to people who aren’t able to attend in person due to personal obligations, health issues or time constraints.

Having the option to participate remotely has a number of advantages, including saving on travel costs and also reducing time lost due to scheduling conflicts. However, there are some fundamental differences between an in person and a virtual meeting that can impact the effectiveness of the discussion.

If you’re not in the same room as other participants, it could be difficult to comprehend facial expressions and body language. This can lead to a decrease in engagement in online meetings, particularly when the board directors are unfamiliar with the technology or are having difficulty using it.

One solution is to implement something similar to a whiteboard within the boardroom application Full Report to encourage participants to collaborate and contribute. Another is to record the meeting, so that board members who cannot attend can go through the meeting minutes afterwards. Recordings can also be helpful to share with new board members.

Before the call gets underway it is essential to review the technology. This will ensure that everyone can be heard and seen clearly. Monitoring for things like computer software updates, camera quality and the settings for microphones can help to avoid any issues that might occur during the meeting. Instructing everyone to muffle themselves when they’re not speaking can help to reduce background noises and distractions.