Governance Online meetings are a great method to make decisions that affect the entire organization. They are not a replacement for meetings in person. For legally binding decisions, governing board members and shareholders must be physically present.

Virtual meetings should be conducted in a way that is as close as the real-world experience as is possible. This means that participants have to prepare for the meeting by studying any advanced materials and be on time and they must interact with each other like they would during an in-person meeting.

This can be accomplished by sending a meeting agenda to all participants and allocating the appropriate amount of time for each item. This will ensure that discussions stay on track and prevent the meeting from running over the time limit. The presiding officer may also invite participants to send messages or raise their hands at any time they wish to take part. This will enable participants to speak freely without disturbing other members, and will make them feel less lonely.

The presiding officer should encourage the use of the muted button. This will reduce any background noise, like dogs barking, crying children or the doorbell rings. They should also ensure to regularly check in with attendees to ensure they can participate. They should also take the initiative to ensure that the minutes are taken and that any major actions or decisions made during the meeting are recorded.

Virtual board portals