Prior to the outbreak numerous boards were planning to go digital. It’s even more important to communicate effectively when you aren’t face-to-face. Some of the methods that work well in person meetings may not work for online communication. However, a few simple changes can make a huge difference.

Set up a schedule for video calls or emails. A schedule will stop members from being behind on communication and ensure that they check their emails frequently, regardless of whether it’s a working day.

Make use of tools such as video conferencing and screen sharing to provide your board members with the full experience of in-person collaboration. These tools allow for audio and visual communication, which is essential to build trust between your team.

Be sure to have a designated person to take minutes of your virtual meetings. The person you choose should be able keep all motions recorded verbatim. This includes who made the motion and how it was seconded.

Using a whiteboard software that provides real-time markups allows your virtual colleagues to feel more connected to your meeting. One of the more popular options is Freehand which allows you to draw on a whiteboard using markers and also allows to chat with your group. It’s not able to share documents or files, so web link if you want to communicate either audio, visually or via text on the board, you’ll need an alternative app. Mural is another alternative. It’s a whiteboard with advanced features, and is well-suited to teams of any size. It also integrates with other apps.