Keep all eyes on the road ahead Running a meeting is like operating a piece of machinery with as many moving parts as there are people in the room. If participants in the meeting are distracted, they may not hear all the information they need to make the best decisions for the organization. As the […]
Category: People Problems
Decorum matters…
“Decorum” has the same root as the word “decoration”: the frills and fixtures that make a room a pleasant place to be. In a meeting, decorum is what keeps the discussion polite and respectful. It includes not only what is said but also the way things are said. The order, the subject and the tone […]
Hunting the elephant in the room
“The fights are always vicious when the stakes are really low.” But the big issues fester silently… It is easy to debate the small stuff. Where there is no real money on the line, and no one has anything to lose. This kind of problem plagues nonprofits and other creative organizations. But it is tougher […]
Silent thoughts are golden
There’s a popular saying, “Never assume that Loud is strong and Quiet is weak.” Quiet people eschew the spotlight and are often able to view an issue without their ego blocking their view. But it can take extra effort to get the quiet people to come forward and express themselves. Humans by nature prefer consensus, […]
Ego Management 101
The key to successful meetings is managing egos, and the biggest one is often your own… The world is a messy place and humans are fragile creatures. We like to be in charge, or at least pretend to be. And there is nothing more messy than a bunch of humans are trying to decide something […]
Civility is the ❤ of civics
Humans might be animals, but we do not need to act like them. For whatever reason, humans are blessed with an amazing ability to express ourselves, which includes the ability to help or harm other. Insulting opponents might win the battle, but you will lose the war for decency in the long run. Civil meetings […]
Dealing with difficult people
There is one in every group of people. Yet, it can be difficult to define exactly what we mean by “difficult people”. Regardless of whether you have issues with a particular person’s personality or one of your colleagues does, these tips can be used to help resolve personality conflicts that can impair board functioning. Who […]