Many companies have embraced online board meetings, and for good reason. They save time and money while offering a greater variety of opinions on decisions. Virtual meetings can be a hassle to conduct. They can impede discussions and reduce productivity.

Engaging participants from remote locations is key to a productive meeting. Utilize video board software: empowering corporate leadership to introduce remote participants and to encourage them to make eye-contact using their webcams. Encourage participation by asking the participants to raise their hands when they are asked feedback or questions. It is important to remind them to keep their voices down when they are not talking to minimize background noises, like pets and children. Set a set of maximum time for speaking to prevent one person dominating the conversation and prevent boredom. This can be done by putting the timeframes in your agenda or appointing a person to be the timekeeper.

Make sure that your board members receive the agenda as well as a list of the items they are expected to address during the meeting. This will ensure that your board members are prepared and are able to make responsible decisions. Board members should be encouraged to focus the discussion and avoid any tangential discussions which may not advance agenda. It’s also a good idea to record minutes of the meeting so that you can preserve the discussion and provide an excellent resource for reviewing the meeting later. In addition, organizing and sending follow-up tasks to participants after the meeting can aid in ensuring that all issues are addressed promptly and that deadlines aren’t missed.