As governing boards return regular operations, hybrid board meetings are quickly becoming the standard. This new format allows nonprofit trustees and directors to participate in meetings remotely as well as attend in person at a later time. This is a fantastic option for many boards because it does not have to accommodate quarantine times and travel restrictions. However hybrid board meetings can be a challenge if they are not planned and implemented properly.
The success of a meeting is dependent on the ability to effectively communicate between participants in person and those who are located. Having a top-quality videoconferencing system with high-speed internet is essential, to ensure that both virtual and in-person attendees can be heard clearly. It’s a good itsboardroom.com idea for attendees in person to have their own audio speakers, and remote participants to be capable of sharing their screen to make it easier to follow the conversation.
A clear agenda is crucial. This can help to keep the meeting on track and on point, which is an issue that may arise if meetings run for too long. Also, it is helpful to have a break available for in-person attendees so that they can re-energize themselves and remain productive throughout the meeting.
It is also a great idea to have the facilitator for each meeting. This is particularly important when there is a lively discussion. It is easy for in-person attendees to overlook their virtual counterparts and ignore the imbalance that is created when some are physically present and others do not. Facilitators can help to balance these differences and keep the group focused.
