The pandemic prompted many non-profit organizations to reconsider how they organize board meetings. Some nonprofits have opted for hybrid meeting formats that can accommodate in-person and remote attendees, rather than sacrificing the safety and health of their staff and board members. However, without the proper preparations and the appropriate tools for hybrid board meetings, they can be a frustrating experience for everyone participants.
BoardPro, a collaborative online tool that allows you create thorough and effective agendas, is the best method to ensure a productive board meeting. Having an agenda that sets clear goals and time limitations for discussions can help your group keep on track and achieve its goals within the time frame you have set. The tool comes with a range of features that make the meeting more interactive and collaborative such as private mode, anonymous voting and digital whiteboards.
A virtual voting system is an important aspect of meetings that are blended. This feature can eliminate social and geographic obstacles to increase diversity on your board and make it easier to be a part of the decision-making process for all attendees. BoardPro’s virtual voting feature enables you to speedily and accurately record votes online. It offers a non-disclosure voting option so that decisions that are sensitive can be taken without compromising the integrity of the board.
It is also essential to offer remote participants easy-to-use technology for video that will improve the meeting experience. Some companies offer self-focusing cameras, such as the Owl Labs’ self-focusing Meeting Owl that automatically will focus on the person speaking while simultaneously showing everyone else in the room. This helps to make the meeting more exciting for those who aren’t physically present in the room, and can help alleviate the feeling of isolation that many remote participants feel during an event that is a hybrid of board meetings.