As boards of directors return to regular operations, hybrid board meetings are rapidly becoming the commonplace. This new system allows nonprofit trustees and directors to participate in meetings remotely as well as attend in person at a www.itsboardroom.com/top-tips-for-dealing-with-difficult-board-members/ later date. This is great for many boards because it helps accommodate the restrictions on travel and quarantine times. Hybrid board meetings can be difficult If they are not planned and implemented properly.

A meeting’s success is largely dependent on the ability to communicate effectively between participants in person as well as those who are remote. A high-quality video conference system that is high-speed and fast internet is essential, to ensure that both virtual and in-person participants can be heard clearly. It is a good idea to have a separate audio speaker for in-person attendees, and to provide remote attendees with the opportunity to share their screen in order to allow them to follow the conversation.

An agenda that is clear is essential. This can help keep the meeting on track and focused, which can be an issue if meetings run for too long. It is also beneficial to include a break for those who attend in person, to let them reenergize themselves and remain productive throughout the meeting.

It is also a great idea to assign a facilitator for every meeting. This is especially crucial during lively discussions. It is easy for people who are present in person to forget their virtual colleagues and forget the tension created by some having a physical presence while others don’t. A facilitator helps to balance these differences and keep the board focusing on the most important issues to be addressed.