Governance Online meetings are a great option to make decisions that can affect the entire organization. They are not a replacement for meetings in person. To make legally binding decisions, governing board members and shareholders must be physically present.
Virtual meetings should be conducted in a manner that is as close to the experience of a face-to-face meeting as possible. Participants should be prepared for the meeting, read any materials that are in advance and be on time. They should also interact with each the same way as they would during the face-toface meeting.
This can be accomplished by sending a meeting agenda to all participants and assigning a specific amount of time for each item. This will ensure that discussions remain on track and will prevent the meeting from running over the time limit. The presiding officer may also invite participants to send messages or raise their hands whenever they would like to take part. This will allow participants to speak up without interrupting others and avoid feeling disengaged from the group.
The presiding officer can also encourage the use the mute button. This can help to minimize background noises such as children crying, dogs barking or doorbells that ring. It is also recommended that they check in with their attendees regularly to ensure that they’re in a position to participate. Finally, they must ensure that minutes are recorded of the meeting and all important decisions or actions are recorded.