Virtual board meetings are now a regular part of many companies’ board member and director engagement. While remote working was once thought to be viewed as an interim measure to help companies deal with the COVID-19 epidemic, it’s now a feature incorporated into the board member and director engagement. However, just like any other new initiative, it can take some getting used to for boards to feel comfortable and productive in a virtual environment.
It can be difficult to create a sense of friendship or interactivity in a virtual setting as it is in a physical setting. By adding interactive elements to meetings such as breakout sessions, a game or even a quick poll can help in breaking up long presentations and encouraging more participation. A second problem is that those who are not used to using teleconferencing or https://justboardroom.com/ video conferences platforms might be intimidated using the internet. This can result in lower engagement levels than usual.
It is essential to ensure that the technology platform chosen for an online board meeting is user-friendly and easy for everyone to use. It can be helpful to run through the technology before the meeting to ensure everyone has the right equipment and can participate without any problems. Limiting the duration of online meetings can also aid in preventing screen fatigue. People may be uncomfortable when staring at their computer for too long. A brief agenda with estimated times for each item will aid the chair in controlling the meeting and keep it moving.
