Cleary's "Selected Issues for Boards of Directors in 2022" provides just the right amount of information, along with realistic, practical recommendations, on a number of discrete hot topics including, e.g., shareholder engagement, ESG disclosure and board oversight, DE&I, “stakeholder” activism, cybersecurity and data privacy, director independence, and much more, that can help bring the board and/or C-suite up to speed on current events, as well as focus the boardroom dialogue. Each topic is presented on a concise, but sufficiently comprehensive, stand-alone basis, so that it can be digested on its own - either via the memo or online here - to suit the organization’s current areas of interest.
These virtual board meeting recommendations are illustrative and share-worthy:
- Maximize preparedness and discussion – Provide directors with detailed pre-work materials and use the meetings for actual discussion and debate rather than introducing and/or summarizing topics for the board.
- Monitor engagement – The board chair or a specific committee should play an enhanced role in guiding the conversation and ensuring that all board members are focused and participating. Consider using virtual tools (breakout rooms, polls, chat boxes) to increase participation.
- Focus on timing – Consider scheduling shorter and more frequent meetings or breaking up sessions to have targeted, topic-driven discussions instead of potentially drawn-out or all-day meetings.
- Manage technology – Establish a communications protocol and ensure the platforms used for meeting remotely work properly and are secure. Provide directors with clear instructions and IT assistance in case of technical challenges.
- Recreate the in-person experience – Organize social events outside meetings to the extent possible to recreate the in-person dynamic and relationship building that may be lost in the virtual environment.
Enumerated potential virtual board meeting benefits include increased attendance, reduced travel, shorter agendas and crisper presentations, more inclusive and focused conversations, and broader exposure to key executives and experts.
See our prior report: “Virtual Board Meetings: Here’s How!” and numerous additional resources on specific topics on our A-Z practical resource pages here.
This post first appeared in the weekly Society Alert!