Virtual board meetings are now a permanent feature of a lot of companies’ board member and director engagement. While remote work used to be seen as meeting availability an option to help organizations through the COVID-19 epidemic, it’s now an option that is integrated into the board member and director engagement. It can take time for boards to become comfortable and productive in virtual settings.
The main issue is that it can be difficult to create the same sense of camaraderie and engagement in a virtual meeting as a real-life one. Adding an interactive component to meetings such as breakout sessions, a quiz or even a quick poll can help in breaking lengthy presentations and encouraging more participation. Another issue is that people who are not used to using teleconferencing or video conferences platforms might be intimidated by being online. This can result in lower engagement levels than usual.
It is essential to select the right technology platform that is easy to use for online board meetings. Prior to the meeting, it may also be beneficial to conduct a technology run-through to ensure that all attendees have the right equipment and can participate without any issues. Limiting the duration of online meetings could aid in preventing screen fatigue. People can become uncomfortable when they are staring at a computer screen for too long. A brief agenda with estimates of time limits for each item will help in the speed of the meeting and assist the chair in directing the meeting.