Online board meetings have become more commonplace as companies shift to a virtual setting. This new method of conducting business requires a little more discipline than meetings held in person, but can be equally productive when the meeting is run correctly. It is crucial to establish clear expectations from the beginning and make sure that everyone follows the rules.
Keep the discussion focussed on the most important points on the agenda. Keep the agenda brief, and break it up into 15-minute sections to avoid fatigue. This will allow you to move quickly through the agenda. By incorporating breaks directly into your agenda can also stimulate discussions and encourage participation.
Brainstorming sessions can be great ways to boost creativity in meetings and often yield very useful ideas. It’s important that everyone in the team is comfortable speaking up in these types of discussions. It’s not uncommon for shy or quiet team members to be overlooked in these kinds of discussions which is why you should be capable of hearing them.
After the meeting, remind the attendees of any follow-up requirements including taking care of the board survey, or providing additional data or information requested during meeting. This can be accomplished with a robust management of boards software solution that allows seamless distribution of documents to all participants.