Online Board Meetings Benefits
Teleconferences have become more common as many companies adapt to working from home permanently following the pandemic. Virtual meetings are useful however there are some problems to be aware of.
Participants who are less engaged might be frightened by the remote meeting initially, because they aren’t used to communicating online. This could lead to less participation in the meeting. This could delay the progress of the board or derail its agenda.
It can be a challenge to discern facial expressions and body language in a virtual conversation that can lead to confusions. A lack of eye contact could also cause some directors to feel less comfortable and less attentive. This isn’t a good sign for the boardroom.
Utilizing the board portal may assist in resolving these issues. For instance a tool for managing the board with an encrypted video conference feature allows for easy recording of meetings and save important documents in one location. Directors can access their documents and minutes from any device at any time.
It’s also a good idea to ensure that the room is spotless and free of distractions. The meeting should not be held during mealtimes and all attendees are urged to muffle their phones when not speaking in order to reduce background noise. The chair should be able view all attendees on camera and encourage them to use their microphones only if necessary to ensure that everyone is not talking at the same time.