Tips for Hybrid Board Meetings

Many nonprofit board members are now opting for hybrid meeting options due to continuing pandemic concerns about in-person meetings. If governing bodies decide to stay with a hybrid approach in the future it is crucial to focus on participation and provide top-quality virtual experiences for attendees. Here are a few key strategies for doing that:

Begin the meeting right with icebreakers, check-ins https://itsboardroom.com/top-tips-for-dealing-with-difficult-board-members/ and icebreakers. This allows attendees to connect over their screens and feel as if they’re part of the same conversation.

Use a video conferencing program which offers more than just audio and meeting tools. Choose a software with accessibility features like text-to speech and dyslexia friendly fonts so that all participants of your meeting are able to participate without obstacles.

You might want to consider using a digital whiteboard like Mural or Miro that lets in-person and remote participants to collaborate in real-time during the meeting. This will allow everyone to be able to see each other, work together and create documentation, which will make an asynchronous process of following-up much easier.

While you’re working on the subject, set time limits for comments from both remote and in-person participants to avoid going off topic or focusing too much on a single topic. This will also ensure that meetings remain focused and productive. It is vital that the chair of the board is present during the meeting to encourage participation. The chair should actively solicit feedback and interact with the attendees, especially those who are shy to ensure that everyone feels heard.

Syed Reyhan

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