The fascinating exchange on July 27, 2017 between Representative Maxine Waters (California) and Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin has reverberated far beyond Washington, DC. Representative Waters sought a direct answer to a specific question. When the Secretary failed to … [Read more...]
Powerful meetings will make a difference in how your organization operates
When many of us spend over half our time in meetings, it is critical that the time and effort you spend achieve results. Read our posts for tips and suggestions that will strengthen your decision-making process in your nonprofit board or local government body, and save valuable time for everyone.
Be a crouching tiger at meetings
As I watch meetings roll along, the good, the bad and the ugly, I often wish that chairs would observe the habits of the crouching tiger. This Sumatran beauty is lying on the rock, perfectly calm, alert and at ease – but ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. If you are chairing a … [Read more...]
How well do you walk this meeting tightrope?
Chairing a meeting requires two skills that are not easy to combine. The presider has to control the meeting, which requires strength. At the same time, he has to remain emotionally connected to the members, which requires warmth. Put too much strength into your voice, and you … [Read more...]
Do we have to obey the mayor?
After a few years in this business, it seems to me that questions of authority are some of the hardest to resolve. Over and over I find city councils, boards of directors, and other governing boards struggling with the question, "Who's in charge here, anyway?" If a group … [Read more...]
Pain point: Whispering and sidebar conversations
This week a reader called me for advice about whispering and sidebar conversations. He is an officer in a small club dedicated to German shepherd dogs. At the last meeting, when a member was giving a report on research she had done, there were two separate sidebar conversations … [Read more...]
When the chair is a bully or out of line
What can you do when the chair is a bully, or out of line? Unfortunately, sometimes the chair lets his position go to his head. We outlined some basic principles about bullying in this post, "Do you have a bully on board?" If you are burdened with a chair who bullies or … [Read more...]
Keep the chair in line using appeal
The “motion to appeal” is one of the least-known motions in Robert’s Rules of Order, and the most powerful. All of us are very familiar with the role of the chair of the meeting. Under Robert’s Rules of Order, the chair has the duty of keeping things on track. He is responsible … [Read more...]
Do you have a bully on board?
Reader Lon Garrison from Alaska asks how to deal with a bully who intimidates other members of the school board, including the chair. There are several things a body can do to resolve this unfortunate situation. Points to consider: 1) Bullying is never allowed at board or … [Read more...]
How to stop rude behavior
Don’t you hate it when you’re interrupted? How about when somebody else says something that feels like a personal attack? Being disrespected feels awful for any normal person. And the good news is that you don’t have to put up with it! Rude behavior is absolutely forbidden under … [Read more...]
Cheat sheet for the chair
My new folding business card includes a “cheat sheet for the chair." It’s our summary of what the person running a meeting really needs to know (see below). I gave one to a senior elected official this week. He read the first line and said, half-joking, “the servant of the … [Read more...]