Online board meetings demand an entirely different level of engagement than the offline ones and it can be difficult to find ways to bring people together in these meetings. It’s essential to begin by making sure that your virtual boardroom is equipped with reliable video conferencing technology along with clear communication protocols as well as sufficient meeting resources for each participant. The next step is to set up procedures that guide participants through online meetings and encourage productive discussion.

Be sure that every item on the agenda is accompanied by a goal for the discussion, such as “decide a specific action item” or “spark new ideas.” This will let you move on from the current discussion as soon after you have reached your desired outcome, and also avoid overstaying your welcome. Setting a time limit for each topic can aid in keeping the meeting moving.

Begin with the most important items on your agenda. In board meetings that are held in person it is possible to discern body language signals to indicate when other members have something important to say. However, these are more difficult to recognize during remote meetings. Begin with the most important issues to ensure that everyone participates in the discussion and feels they have had a good time.

Use a consent agenda to free time for more controversial discussions that might not have as much of an impact on your organization. Noncontroversial agenda items can be voted upon by all members prior to when the meeting begins to allow you to focus on what matters most. Think about inviting experts to give short presentations or insights which can broaden the board’s perspectives and avoid groupthink.

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