Online board meetings require the same level of engagement than offline ones and it can be difficult to find new ways to stimulate them. Start by ensuring that your virtual boardroom is equipped with reliable video conference, clear communication protocols and sufficient meeting resources. It is then possible to establish procedures that guide participants through online meetings and encourage productive discussion.

Make sure that each agenda item is associated with a conversational objective that is, for instance “decide on an action item” or “spark ideas.” This will help you move away from the issue that is in front of you as soon as the desired outcome has been reached and avoid overstaying your meeting’s time. Also, establishing an time limit for each discussion point will prevent the discussion from getting lost.

Begin with the most important issues on your agenda. During board meetings in person, it’s possible to recognize body language signals to show when members have important things to say. However, these signals are more difficult to detect when remote meetings are held. Beginning with the most pressing topics will ensure that everyone participates in the discussion and will feel their time has been well spent.

Utilize a boardmanagementsoftware.info/how-to-get-the-most-valuable-virtual-data-rooms/ consensus agenda to save time on more controversial discussion topics that may not have the same impact on your organization. Agenda items that are not controversial can be voted upon by all members before the meeting starts, so that you can concentrate on what is most important. Similarly, consider inviting expert guests to deliver short talks or insights that broaden the perspective of the board and cut off groupthink in the boardroom.