Each board or committee member has the responsibility to make the meeting meaningful for all. They believe in collaboration, democratic process and collective wisdom. The following are ways to be helpful.

Ways to Help Groups

1. Consensus testing: "It seems to me we all agree about..."
2. Contributing: Board and committee members should contribute their ideas; better to say it than to wish later that you had.
3. Encouraging: "That was a good idea."
4. Expanding: Don't repeat what has already been said. If there is something that needs to be added, add it.
5. Expressing one's own feelings about an idea: not "That is dumb," but "That approach makes me uneasy."
6. Information: Giving facts and figures that are needed.
7. Listening: Too often members are thinking about what they are going to say rather than listening to what is being said.
8. Mission reminding: "Does this fulfill our mission, our goals?" (Otherwise known as "keeping an eye on the ball.")
9. Summarizing: This is important for the chair to do, but individual board or committee members can be helpful in trying to pull a wide-ranging discussion together.

Ways to Impede Groups

Good board and committee members avoid the following:

1. Dominating: Even though you may be an expert on an issue, let someone else have a chance to contribute. You may learn something!
2. False self-deprecation: "Well, I may not know all the answers; but..." Who in the room has all the answers? And does this imply that anyone who disagrees is asserting that he or she does have all the answers? Under this goes, the "Well, I'm just a volunteer," or "I'm not a professional," and so on.
3. Frivolity: A good joke or "bon mot" at the right time is wonderful and can frequently ease the tension when emotions are high or simply add to the pleasant dynamic of the board; but someone who jokes all the time isn't taking the meeting or his or her responsibilities seriously.
4. Parochialism: What is good for my neighborhood or my program is good for everyone." Maybe "yes," maybe "no." What has been done may, indeed, be good for a particular place or group, but it needs to be put in context for the unit we are now addressing.
5. Personal Attacks: Attack the problem, not the person.
6. Self-righteousness: "Well, I'm just trying to be fair"... implying that he or she is the only fair-minded person in the room.
7. Stubbornness: "I don't think you heard what I said; so I'll say it again, but louder."
   "Uncle Harry" Stories: Interpreting an entire issue in the light of what happened to one person at one time.

Jeanne H. Bradner is an author, consultant, trainer and speaker on volunteerism, board development and leadership. She is the author of three publications, Passionate Volunteerism, The Board Member's Guide, A Beneficial Bestiary and Leading Volunteers for Results: Building Communities Today. She served as director of the Illinois Governor's Office of Voluntary Action, Midwest Regional Director of ACTION, and Executive Director of the Illinois Commission on Community Service. She is the volunteer program specialist for Illinois' Harper College Volunteer Management curriculum.

Send your comments and questions to Jeannebrad@aol.com