Posts Tagged ‘discussion’
Using the Round Robin Method for efficient board meetings
The simplest way to make board meetings more efficient is to use the Round Robin Method of discussion. In a round robin, each member of the body is given an opportunity to speak once before anyone may speak a second time, commonly by calling on the members around the table in turn. Sometimes, however, it’s…
Read MoreDangers of consensus decision-making
At a recent nonprofit board conference, I asked participants how they discuss and decide their issues.
Read MoreMake better decisions using Exploratory Round Robin
You can make better decisions about complicated proposals by using the Exploratory Round Robin.
Read MoreInterrupting is not allowed at meetings
Interrupting is one of the most common conversational gambits in our American society. It is not allowed at meetings run according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Read MoreInappropriate remarks on nonprofit boards
If you serve as a director on a nonprofit board, you should know the types of remarks that are inappropriate during discussion at a meeting.
Read MoreInappropriate remarks on local government councils
If you serve as an elected official on a local government council or board, you should know the types of remarks that are inappropriate during discussion at meetings.
Read MoreHow do you “call the question” in Robert’s Rules?
The motion “to call the question,” which has the technical name of “previous question,” may be the most abused motion in all of Robert’s Rules of Order. It is very common for people to shout out the word “question” or “I call the question” in the expectation that debate will immediately stop, and a vote…
Read MoreCheat 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 group, not the boss?! That…
Read MoreOne simple guideline can make meetings more productive
Meetings of one type or another can take up to half of the average work day and keeping them productive can sometimes be a challenge. But there’s one simple guideline that can save time and improve the content of daily meetings by a thousand percent and it’s this: No one may speak a second time…
Read MoreMy board is too nice
At a recent family party, as we enjoyed summer pasta salad and delicious cheeses, a guest and I chatted about Jurassic Parliament. We were discussing boards of directors when she made this off-hand comment: “My board is too nice.”
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