Challenges and Barriers to Virtual Board Meetings
Virtual board meetings can be a great way to reduce costs and the time spent travelling to in-person board meetings. They offer the same benefits of in-person meetings like a wider range of perspectives, but without the limitations of space or travel expenses. They enable board https://boardroomtx.com/benefits-of-virtual-board-meetings/ members to focus more on strategic decisions and make them quicker.
Some challenges and barriers do occur when converting from a traditional meeting format to a digital. Some of these can be overcome by making sure that all board members have access to high-quality video and audio tools for conferencing, whereas others will require some extra effort by the team to overcome. This article will discuss the major issues that you could face when organising your first virtual board meetings and provide some suggestions for addressing these issues effectively.
Unengagement
The intimate bonding and personal connection that comes from a face-to-face meeting is hard to replicate online, however there are ways to motivate board members to engage in virtual discussions. You can start by creating a collaborative environment where questions and feedback is welcome. However, you could go further by allowing time for open discussions.
Video and audio conferencing has seen significant improvements over time. However there are some attendees who may be unable to adapt to the digital format. To lessen the risk of technical difficulties, it’s recommended to prepare for a meeting in advance by testing the tool and giving clear instructions to newcomers. Also, you should remind participants to disable their notifications and shut down any programs that might affect their bandwidth, and assign an employee to assist them in logging into and provide technical assistance during the meeting, and assist in preparing the meeting’s minutes following the meeting.
