Despite the COVID-19 outbreak the majority of people still participate in governance meetings over the internet. While this may be an inconvenience for those who prefer to be in person, it’s an excellent opportunity for administrations to show their responsiveness and civic engagement.
The primary challenge is to ensure that the appropriate technology to participate is in place including voice, screen and video sharing all important. Many organizations depend on emailing information packs with attachments or file-sharing software that has folders to be downloaded. However, these solutions don’t support the structured process and distribution of agenda items.
Another issue is that it’s harder to engage in casual conversations which are often a part of face-to-face gatherings. It is also a great method of building relationships and build trust. By introducing the meeting early, including time for informal conversations, or utilizing the chat function within your virtual meeting platform, you can establish the connections needed for a solid and effective governance.
Governance meetings can also be used to fine-tune the roles and responsibilities in case new team members are brought on and roles are changed or a new task is needed. This can prevent discussions hijacking other meetings, and helps the team be as efficient and effective as they can be.
