While remote working was once seen as a short-term measure to help companies get through the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have now switched to virtual board meetings as a permanent aspect of their board member and director engagement. However, as with any new idea, it will take some getting used to for boards to feel at ease and productive in a virtual setting.
The main issue is that it is difficult to achieve the same level of camaraderie as well as interaction in a virtual gathering as a real-life one. Incorporating interactive elements to meetings, such as breakout sessions, a game or even a quick poll could be helpful in breaking long presentations and promoting more participation. Another issue is that going online can be intimidating for those who aren’t used to communicating via videoconferencing or teleconferencing systems, leading to lower engagement levels than normal.
It’s important to ensure that the technology platform selected for online board meetings is user-friendly and easy for everyone to use. It can be helpful to run through the technology before the meeting to ensure that everyone has the correct equipment and can participate without any problems. Limiting the duration of online meetings may aid in preventing screen fatigue. People may be uncomfortable when they are staring at a computer screen for too long. An agenda that is brief and with estimates of time limits for each item can help in the pace of the meeting and assist the chair in directing the click now meeting.