3 Solutions to the Lack of Attendee Body Language Cues in Virtual Meetings

  • By: Passageways
  • May 7, 2020
Reading Time: 2 minutes
3 Solutions to the Lack of Attendee Body Language Cues in Virtual Meetings

When making the transition to virtual board meetings, organizations typically encounter multiple unanticipated challenges. The following is just one of those challenges – and the solution.

The Challenge

During in-person meetings, people use body language to subconsciously translate what their peers are thinking or feeling from their movements and facial expressions. Body language has proven to help meeting attendees recall conversations and subjects discussed during meetings.

During face-to-face meetings, a good meeting leader observes attendee body language and reacts accordingly. This is difficult to accomplish in a virtual meeting.

Body language is difficult to interpret in virtual meetings. Is this board member angry, confused, or thoughtful?

The Solution

In the absence of observable body language, meeting leaders can take action to encourage all attendees to contribute, including:

  • Take roll on attendees and call out specific board members to comment and offer their opinions.
  • Use messaging apps to privately request opinions and contributions from quieter attendees.
  • Use a survey app (both during and after the meeting) to drill down on issues that did not receive enough vetting and discussion.
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About The Author

Passageways
Passageways
Passageways is a SaaS provider of collaboration solutions for boards and employees. OnBoard is a board governance solution, designed to improve collaboration for directors and administrators throughout the meeting life cycle. OnSemble's a lovable, drag and drop, Employee Intranet that connects an entire workplace to one central collaboration hub, builds your culture, and inspires employee engagement.

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