Planning and Executing Hybrid Board Meetings
As governing boards return to regular operations and hybrid meetings are becoming more common. This new method allows directors and trustees of nonprofit organizations to attend meetings remotely as well as attend in person at a later date. This is an excellent option for many boards as it doesn’t have to accommodate quarantine time periods and travel restrictions. However the hybrid board meetings could be a challenge if they are not planned and executed properly.
The success of a conference is dependent on the ability to communicate effectively between participants who are present in person and those who are remote. It is crucial to have an advanced video conference system that allows both in-person and virtual participants to be heard clearly. It is a good idea to have a dedicated audio speaker for participants in person, and also to offer remote attendees the option of sharing their screens in order to allow them to follow the discussion.
The importance of having a clear agenda is crucial. This will help keep the meeting on track and on point this is a problem that can arise if meetings are held for too long. It is also beneficial to include a break for those who attend in person so that they can re-energize themselves and continue to be productive throughout the meeting.
It is also a great idea to designate an individual facilitator for each meeting. This is especially important when there is a lively discussion. It is easy for in-person attendees to forget about their virtual counterparts and disregard the imbalance created when there is a physical presence and others don’t. Facilitators can help bring balance to these find here differences, and keep the board focused.