How to Chair a Meeting

A key element of the success of any meeting is the approach and skills of the meeting chair.

The tip sheet in the box at right offers ideas on how to perform this task with skill and grace.

Did we leave good ideas out? Please contact us with thoughts on how to improve on this resource.

Another useful set of resources related to this topic relates to rules of procedure at meetings/Rosenberg’s Rules.

Promoting Civility at Public Meetings: Concepts and Practice

In the context of democratic debate, civility is about how people treat each other. Civility involves the display of respect for those who have positions with which one disagrees.

Even though disagreement plays a necessary role in governance and politics, the issue is how one expresses that disagreement. The two pieces at right offer thoughts.

The first link combines the two Everyday Ethics columns that the Institute produced in 2003 on this topic.

The second is a 2011 tipsheet produced for a local agency workshop on effective meeting practices.

Comments and suggestions welcome on either.

Promoting Civility at Public Meetings: Concepts and Practice Tips for Promoting Civility in Public Meetings

Dealing with Emotional Audiences

This article provides strategies that leaders can employ to maximize the likelihood that public meetings on controversial issues will involve constructive exchanges that contribute to the best decision being made.
Additionally, a piece from the Orange County Human Relations Commission is available, “Free Speech vs Hate Speech: Practical Guidelines for Managing Public Forums.”

Codes of Conduct for Elected Boards

Collaboration among elected bodies and between individual members takes effort. Finding common ground and cultivating respectful relationships early…

Dealing With a Grandstander

This article analyzes the ethical issues associated with grandstanding and offers tips for dealing with grandstanders.

Parliamentary Procedure Simplified

Decision-making bodies typically have procedures designed designed to guide the discussion and decision-making process.