How to Energize Productive Online Board Meetings

Online board meetings demand more engagement than the offline ones and it can be difficult to determine ways to bring people together in these meetings. Begin by making sure your virtual boardroom is equipped with reliable video conferencing, clear communication protocols and the appropriate meeting materials. It is then possible to establish protocols that guide participants through online meetings and encourage productive discussions.

Be sure that each item on the agenda is accompanied by an objective for the conversation like “decide an action item” or to “spark new ideas.” This will allow you to move on from the current topic as soon as you have achieved your desired result and avoid extending your stay. Setting a time limit for each topic can help keep the meeting moving.

Begin with the most important things on your agenda. In person board meetings it is possible to detect body language signals to indicate when other members have something important to say. These signals are harder to recognize during how can online meetings be productive remote meetings. Beginning with the most urgent issues will ensure that everyone gets involved in discussion and will feel their time was well spent.

Utilize a consensus agenda to reduce time spent on more controversial discussion topics that may not have the same impact on your company. Members can vote on non-controversial items before the meeting starts, so you can concentrate on the most important issues. Consider inviting experts as guests to provide short presentations or information that broaden the perspective of the board and cut away groupthink in the boardroom.