Ejike Okpa II

Introduction to Robert’s Rule of Order

Posted July 13, 2007 · Ejike Okpa II

If you have ever attended meetings conducted by Nigerians, you come off wondering, what are they doing? It is obvious things are done differently when it comes to Nigerians in US; and they are proud of IT. A meeting that will take just a few hours, lasts annoyingly for hours and one often leave: Why did I just wasted some time.

Nigerians are wont to paying no attention to ‘Order’, and woe be tide that person that seek to conduct business in an orderly fashion. It is common practice to attend meetings conducted by Nigerians in US and have someone as a ‘Provost’; attempting to keep order. It leaves one wondering, if order is followed and meetings conducted in ways they are supposed to, why a ‘Provost’? In fact, some organizations elect people to such position. By modern standards of conducting meeting, the Chair or president, is the presiding officer, and by virtue of ‘presiding’, there is no need for a provost. Provost is an old form used to whip people into order, and Nigerians seems not to mind that even with the benefit of living in US where they can look across the line and observe how to get the best out of their collective efforts, they stick to what does not work.

In the mix of agenda discussion, people rudely interrupt and even when the discussion comes to an end, there is hardly a follow up. The meeting often end with no action taken on subjects that consumed inordinate amount of time and when the next meeting rolls on, there is no follow up. And to worsen matter, food and drinks are often served as the business of the meeting is going on; not just drinks – ALCOHOL. If alcohol is known to impair the faculty of the mind, is it possible that Nigerians who are prone to disorderly conduct, do better when alcohol is introduced into their system? You go figure!

The reason for such lousy meeting conduct is because Nigerians do not know how to discuss in a meeting, the challenge often is the consciousness of continuity and order, and effectiveness of follow ups. Meeting is a relay that require certain order so that agenda items, for your information only items, motions, seconds, etc., are tabled and handled to a conclusion. When motions are made and seconded, there is a reason for such. Without the order outlined by the Robert’s Rule of Order, meetings will basically be a picnic affair; a loosely gathered folks that go away after they have chatted on nothing.

The attached Robert’s Rule is to help anyone see whether they understand how meetings are conducted. I do not mean corporate business meeting, but rather Board and General Assembly meeting where everyone is free to make motion and or second motion. When taken seriously, a lot can be learned and such is what makes one appear respected and the other not. Being able to conduct a meeting for those in the corporate arena is the difference between being a front-desk officer and one left in the dark room. The image of a corporation is reflected in those that carry its image well just as being a tenured professor in a US university is different from being just a professor. The tenured professor wears the badge of the college and is availed of all the privileges and rights of the university.

Some may say this is a ‘western’ style template, well, and so what? The Robert’s Rule of Order, is supposed to be a guide, tested and accepted as the standards for meeting conduct. It can help Nigerians get the most when they gather to deliberate on issues they intend to follow up on. Although most of the meetings are hardly action driven and merely social occasions, something can be learned from perusing Robert’s Order and putting it to practice. Surprisingly, some of Nigeria’s elected Assembly and House members, travel overseas to be taught this. Here it’s brought to you courtesy of my experience.

Robert’s Rule of Order

Ejike Okpa II
Next Generation Fellow
The American Assembly
Columbia University

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