It can often be challenging and frustrating for the presiding officer of an association meeting to deal with a very disruptive member. Those are the types of members with strong opinions. They are very outspoken. They will cut other people off while they are talking. They will change issues or go off on a tangent. They will challenge the meeting leader and others in various ways over rules, mechanics and philosophy.
Those types will be a pain in the backside for any association leader. Unfortunately, members who disrupt meetings come with the territory. How do you go about thwarting those disruptive members?
It is often in the best interest of the organization first to make every effort to obtain a satisfactory solution of the matter quietly and informally with that member. Explain to the excessive talker that it is good to hear from others.
If that member continues to speak up during the meeting, acknowledge the comment and involve others. “Al, that was an interesting insight. Dave, what are your views on this issue?”
If that member continues to be disruptive, Robert’s Rules of Order Section 61 provides detailed disciplinary procedures available to a presiding officer. Those procedures range from calling a member to order, reprimand, suspension and expulsion.
Fortunately, that kind of disruption is very rare during a well-planned, well-organized and well-run meeting. Even so, presiding officers often feel more comfortable if they are prepared to handle the worst situation that may arise.
The leader of most, if not all, association meetings should have an agenda that is dispersed to members ahead of the meeting. The agenda should provide an opportunity for all members, including potentially disruptive members, to speak and ask questions. At the start of the meeting or the comment period, if that occurs first, explain the rules by which you will moderate discussion.
An association is wise to create a conduct of meetings policy and definitely follow Robert’s Rules of Order. That allows the meeting leader to moderate the meeting and member comment period neutrally and evenhandedly, strictly according to the rules. That way everyone is treated equally and fairly.
If the disruptive member attempts to speak at a time when he or she is out of order, explain when he or she had, or will have, an opportunity to speak. Next explain why, in the best interest of the organization, the meeting should proceed, because the right of the majority to have the meeting proceed as planned in the agenda is more important than one member speaking out of turn. Clearly explaining why you are moving the meeting along helps reassure other members that you are not taking away the disruptive member’s rights to be heard, but are protecting everyone’s rights.
On those rare occasions when nothing seems to work in modifying the disruptive behavior, ask the individual to leave the meeting. That may seem harsh but remember — the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the association comes first.
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