Originally sent on September 18, 2023

Hi Barb,

Most meetings will go more quickly and have better results if there is some structure to them. Agree?

General Henry M. Robert knew this, and he created Robert's Rules of Order (aka Robert's Rules) in 1876 to address the chaotic meetings of his day. 

Modeled loosely after the parliamentary rules of the United States' Congress (not the military, as some believe), Robert's Rules are widely cited in organizational bylaws in the USA. People here often think Robert's Rules are the best -- or only -- set of procedures that will make meetings fair and efficient. The Gold Standard, 

The current official version, Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition, is 816 pages long. Even the official Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, In Brief is over 200 pages long. 

"Ee gad!" as my little brother used to say. Who can remember all those rules? 

To his credit, General Robert had good intentions. When he created his guide for conducting meetings and making decisions as a group, he wanted to:

• Make meeting procedures more efficient and predictable
• Enable more people to participate
• Protect minority views
• Ensure decisions were documented 

We appreciate General Robert for that! 

The problem is, his good intentions are not always realized.

• Leaders can misuse Robert's Rules to their own advantage
• Meetings can go on seemingly forever
• People who can't read or who are unfamiliar with Robert's Rules can be effectively excluded from participating in decisions that impact them
• Ditto for those who have different abilities or thinking patterns, or whose cultures make decisions in different ways

Want to learn more?

Daryl Yankee wrote a blog post about why we should consider alternatives to Robert's Rules. 

Daryl and I will be at the Minnesota Council of NonProfits' annual conference this week. We're offering a breakout session so non-profit leaders can explore and try out some alternatives to Robert's Rules. If you're attending the MCN conference, please join our session at 2 PM on Thursday 9/21. 

Spoiler alert: you will experience at least 3 Liberating Structures !  

We'll be offering the same session for YOU on Monday, November 6th at noon US central time, online.  Save the date now -- registration details will come later.  

In the meantime.... 

We want to review available alternatives to Robert's Rules and find the least amount of structure needed to make decisions.  

You can help us. What rules or procedures does your group use? Tell us by taking this short survey!

Warmly,

Barb Bickford

PS -- to all who have joined my email list in the last month, WELCOME!

If an event has already occurred, the links in this email may not work. Questions? Contact Barb.

Ensuring Dogs and Cats Get Equal Scratch at Decision-Making

If you show up to meetings barking and clawing to make your point, you might be a dog person. If you lay back during the decision-making process but circle back to pee on outcomes you don’t like, you may be a cat person. 

To keep cats and dogs together, Daryl Yankee sets out seven steps to creating an inclusive and equitable task process in this article.

Beyond Bob - Practicing Alternatives to Robert's Rules
 -- Save the date! Monday November 6, noon central time

In this online session, we'll explore the pros and cons of Robert's Rules and identify ways to begin shifting your meetings towards more collaboration and inclusiveness.

Come prepared to contribute to a conversation unpacking the essential elements of facilitating open and inclusive decision-making at the committee and board level. We'll take it a step farther by practicing alternatives you can use even if your bylaws require using Robert's Rules. Together, we will explore governance frameworks that invite every member to fully participate in your organization's vision, values, purpose, and practice.

Registration information will be sent in an upcoming email.  To help shape this session, please take this short survey

NOTE: At the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits' Annual Conference this week, our session is in the Leadership & Governance track on Thursday 9/21 at 2 PM.

Clean Language and Servant Leadership, October 20, 8:30 to 10 AM central time

Servant leaders seek to lead by providing strong support to their employees. Above all, servant leadership involves listening. Clean Language provides questions and a way of asking them that enable leaders to better listen to what their people are saying and needing. 

I'm guiding an introductory session on Clean Language for the UW Madison Servant Leadership community of practice on Friday October 20th. Anyone interested in Clean Language or servant leadership is welcome. Reply to this email and I'll send you the link when it becomes available.

What Matters in This Moment: Leading Groups Through Uncertain Times

Harry Webne-Behrman (one of my mentors) is offering an exciting opportunity to develop your capacity to create meaningful change in your company, organization, or community. Through a series of highly interactive and engaging activities, participants will learn to be effective leaders of sustainable, meaningful change efforts. Learn more and register. 

Recent Blog posts

-- Beyond Bob: Why we should consider alternatives to Robert's Rules -- a guest post by Daryl Yankee
-- What's essential for an agenda?
-- What's better than good old strategic planning?

My current workshops and courses

You can suspend Robert's Rules

What if you want to use an engaging, effective activity, such as a Conversation Cafe or a Liberating Structure, in a meeting, but your group's bylaws require the use of Robert's Rules? 

Can you deviate from Robert's Rules?  YES!  

Strictly speaking, you must first “suspend” the Rules. This allows a group to do something the Rules would not otherwise allow.

How to suspend Robert’s Rules:

1. Motion to suspend the rules and give your reason for suspending them (there’s no need to cite the specific rule)
2. Second it, and this may not be amended or debated
3. Take a vote on the suspension. Two-thirds’ majority passes the motion

Now you can uphold Robert's rules -- by suspending them. Go figure.

Want more tips? Access Ten Tips to Foster Online Engagement.

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