Planning and Executing Hybrid Board Meetings

As boards of directors return to normal business meeting in hybrid format, they are fast becoming the norm. This new model allows nonprofit directors and trustees to attend meetings remotely as well as attend in person at a later date. This is beneficial for many boards because it eliminates the need to accommodate the travel restrictions and quarantine time. Hybrid board meetings can be problematic when they’re not planned and executed properly.

One important aspect https://itsboardroom.com/ of an effective meeting is clear communication between in-person and remote participants. It is crucial to have a high-speed video conference system that allows both in-person and virtual participants to be heard clearly. It is a good idea for participants in person to have their own audio speaker and remote attendees to be in a position to share their screen so that they can listen to the discussion.

A clear agenda is important. This can help to keep the meeting focused and on the right track, which is an issue that may arise if meetings are held for too long. It is also beneficial to provide a brief break for participants who are in person so that they can recharge themselves and remain productive throughout the meeting.

It is also a good idea to choose an individual facilitator for each meeting. This is particularly important when there is a lively discussion. It is easy for people who are in person to ignore their virtual colleagues and ignore the imbalance that is created when certain people are physically present and others don’t. Facilitators help to manage these differences and keep the board focusing on the most important issues to be addressed.