Virtual board meetings are now a permanent component of many companies’ board member and director engagement. While remote working used to be thought of as an option to help companies deal with the COVID-19 epidemic, it is now a feature that is incorporated into their director and board member engagement. However, as with any new idea, it will take some time for boards to feel comfortable and productive in a virtual environment.

It isn’t always easy to create a sense of social interaction or camaraderie in a virtual context as it is in a real one. A quick poll, a quiz or even breakout sessions can break up long presentations. Another difficulty is that interacting online could be intimidating for those who aren’t accustomed to using video conference or teleconferencing platforms and can lead to lower than usual engagement levels.

It is essential to choose a technology platform that is simple to use for online board meetings. It is helpful to run through the technology prior to the meeting to ensure that everyone is equipped with the right equipment and can take part without difficulty. It is also beneficial to limit the length of online meetings in order to prevent the possibility of fatigue from screens as people get uncomfortable after looking at a computer screen www.justboardroom.com/data-room-software-for-active-usage/ for long. The inclusion of a brief agenda with estimates of time limits for each item can aid in the speed of the meeting and assist the chair in controlling the meeting.