Hybrid Board Meetings

Hybrid board meetings have become the standard as board members return to face-to-face meetings. This new system allows participants to meet in person and remotely simultaneously to reduce costs while increasing accessibility. Whether your organization opts for all-virtual meetings, in-person meetings with remote attendees or both, it’s vital to establish meeting rules and expectations to ensure that everyone feels respected. To accomplish this, it’s important to ensure that the technology is optimized and clear guidelines are set for participation.

Hybrid board meeting are not without challenges. Some board members might be irritated by not being allowed to interact in the same room, or feel that their contributions are not as meaningful because they can’t provide face-toface perspective to their peers’ comments. Meeting experts recommend taking proactive measures to support collaboration, including opening virtual rooms for social interaction prior and during meetings and https://itsboardroom.com/ during breaks, and using tools like a board portal to centralize the work of your board.

Another common issue is that there are varying levels of technical expertise among board members. Some remote participants may not be able to attend the meeting, or their participation may be hindered by poor audio or video quality or the inability to connect to the internet. You can help your board navigate these challenges by educating them on how to utilize technology and ensuring that they have reliable equipment available before the meeting.