http://boardmeetingplatform.blog/company-secretarys-role-in-board-management-and-what-it-means

A well-organized online board meeting could be a great tool to increase the effectiveness and accountability of a non-profit. However, it can also create challenges. One of the biggest issues is the lack of communication between participants. This can impact the way board members communicate with each their fellow board members, which could have negative effects on the decision-making process.

The key to a successful virtual board meeting’s success is having the proper tools in place in addition to the right training and protocols for communication. The choice of a suitable online management software that provides high-end security, live polling and the ability to conduct real-time voting during the meeting is important. It is vital that everyone has a stable connection to the internet and are familiar with their videoconferencing equipment. It is recommended to hold an initial test session prior to the actual meeting, especially for new board members to ensure that any issues can be worked out prior to the actual meeting.

Another issue is the lack of body language and facial expressions that can make it difficult to follow conversations and read how other participants are feeling. To avoid this board members should turn off their microphones during meetings and only turn them back on when they have something to say. It is also important to have a clear procedure to give the floor to the different owners, and to limit their time speaking to avoid confusion and noise.

Finally, it is an excellent idea to provide an area for waiting people who wish to join the meeting but are not yet ready. This will ensure that attendees do not having to attend the meeting while it’s already in progress and could lead to a loss of productivity and detract from the meeting’s effectiveness.