Golden Rules For Meetings
1. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Do not attempt to make up an answer. Instead, offer to find out and report back either by letter or in person at the next meeting (AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO).
2. If it is beyond your authority to make a decision, do not be tempted to promise something that you cannot deliver. Instead say that you will ask and come back with a response.
Likewise, there are two golden rules for tenants
1. Only expect answers on issues that staff members know about or have had appropriate advance notice of.
2. Only promise what you know you can deliver to both tenants and staff.
Good Practice
- Be punctual
- Respect the ground rules for the meeting
- Respect other participants rights to have a different opinion from your own
- Make sure that you have carried out the tasks given to you at previous meetings
- Support the chair and other participants at the meeting
- Speak “through the chair”
- Be interested in the discussion
- Listen to others without interrupting
- Be constructive with your comments
- Be aware of others feelings
- Make sure your points are understood and encourage questions from other participants
- Make your points clearly and concisely
- Be co-operative and accept decisions made by the majority
- Welcome new members and help them settle in
- Always be aware of the meetings objectives
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