Online Board Meetings Benefits
With many companies moving to working at home as a permanent solution following the pandemic, teleconferences have become more common than sample financial report ever. While the convenience of virtual meetings is an obvious benefit, there are few challenges to consider before making the change.
A lower level of engagement: Some attendees may be frightened by a remote meeting initially, since they aren't accustomed to communicating via online communication. This could lead to a reduced participation in the meeting. This can impede board progress and impede the agenda of the company.
It can also be difficult to discern facial expressions and body language in a virtual conversation which can result in misunderstandings. Eye contact issues can cause some directors to feel less comfortable and passive listeners. This isn't a good sign for a board.
The board portal can aid in solving these problems. A board management tool that has video conferencing that is secure for instance allows you to store and record important documents. Directors can access their documents and minutes from any device at any time.
It is also recommended to ensure that the environment for meetings is clean and distraction-free. For instance the meeting shouldn't be held during meal times and all attendees should turn off their phones when not speaking to prevent background noise. The chair should be able see all attendees on camera and encourage participants to use their microphones only when needed to prevent everyone from talking at the same time.