Despite the spread of COVID-19, people continue to attend governance meetings online. This may be an inconvenience for those who prefer attend in person, but it’s also a good way for government officials and their staff to show their responsiveness to citizens.
The biggest challenge is to ensure that the right technology is in place to allow participation that includes video, voice and screen sharing as key elements. Many companies rely on emailing information packs with attachments, or file-sharing software that allows folders to be downloaded. However, these solutions don’t support the systematic processing and distribution of agenda items.
Other challenges are that it’s more difficult to engage in casual conversations that usually accompany meetings in person. It is also a great way to build relationships and trust. By introducing the meeting early, including the time for informal conversations or using the chat function within your virtual meeting platform, you will be able to help to build the relationships needed for effective and strong governance.
Governance meetings can also be used to define the roles and responsibilities of new team members are conducting board meeting brought on or existing roles are modified or new work is required. This can keep discussions from taking over other meetings and enable the team to be more effective and efficient.