The pandemic forced nonprofit organizations to “take it to the web” to stay connected to and meet the needs of not only the communities we serve, but also our staff who ensure that our missions continue to be met. But are we achieving the intended results, and can we do it better?
Independent Sector and other organizations partnered with The Goodman Center on a survey about the ups and downs of the explosion of videoconferencing triggered by the pandemic. The results and recommendations are included in the new report, “Unmuted: What works, what doesn’t, and how we can all do better when working together online.” Based on a survey of 4,405 people at nonprofits and foundations, colleges and universities, and government agencies, the free report addresses the question: “What’s really happening when working together face-to-face means screen-to-screen?”
The report pressed “unmute” to enable thousands of people to sound off about their daily experiences in videoconferences, and identifies persistent and common problems, as well as best practices worth emulating. Divided into nine sections, “Unmuted” focuses on specific aspects of videoconferences, including structure, leadership and facilitation, and engagement techniques; along with data-driven recommendations in each section to help you improve your videoconferences.
By all accounts, the chances are good that we’ll be seeing each other “on screen” for months to come. Here’s hoping “Unmuted” can help your organization overcome the feelings of isolation and distractions that often come with online meetings and strengthen our connections with our staff and the communities we serve.