Disruptive Board member

Third time in recent years weeks I've seen posts about board members behaving badly, and I still don't understand why or how one person is allowed to dominate a meeting, decision making or anything else. This is supposed to be a democracy, not a dictatorship.

There are two ways you can do this. The first would be to hold an executive session to have a come to Jesus meeting about this director's behavior. Board members should be respectful of other homeowners, vendor and fellow board members. That doesn't mean you have to agree,but you should be able to express yourself in a professional. This is a business meeting after all, and you can't make thoughtful decisions if half the time is spent trying to keep someone from behaving like an idiot or bully.

If the board member's behavior was especially foul, such as threatening someone with a lunch in the nose or some duch, he or she should apologize to that person as well as issue an apology at the next board meeting for his/her behavior. You could also censure the person and if he or she is an officer, consider removing him/her from the position.

Another way is for the president and someone else to have a private conversation with the board member. Maybe he/she was having a bad day and things got out of hand. If this was a first time blow up it may be enough to emphasize how board members should behave and give him/her a chance to straighten up. At the next the meeting, the president could acknowledge things got a little out of hand during the last meeting, but assure everyone that it won't happen again.

The other board members need to be united in addressing this, no matter what you decide to do. This is a time where you can't be a go are and go along to get along, because the next time, the object of this board member's hissy fit may be you. And if you don't nip it in the bud early, it'll continue. Bullies always behave like bullies as long as others let them.

There are dozens of conversations on this website about out of control board members. Read a few and consider what approach might work best in your situation. But first, decide how far YOU want to push this, because you may be the only one with the backbone to say something. Sometimes that's all it takes, but it can also be the beginning of a war between you two. You'll need to decide if you have the stomach for it because that's how some good board members get driven away.

In what kinds of ways is this director "disrupting?" Shouting? calling ppl names? Interrupting others? Please be specific.

Are you on the Board, Janet? Sheila suggests the first step is the Board president have a private chat with this director. Try being nice and ask the director the reasons for being disruptive.

If not effective, at meetings, the present or any director may call, "Point of Order," even by interrupting the disrupter, and state that the disrupter is out of order and must stop speaking. All other directors should nod vigorously in agreement

If the disrupter is an officer and refuses to correct their behavior, the Board should vote her/him out of office--the person wold still be a director.

Our association governing documents allow the Board of Directors to vote a dsiruptive board member off the Board. This has happened once in 25 years.

For those who are not directors:

We warn once.

On the second time, we explain if it happens again we will recess the meeting and have the individual removed.

On the third time, we recess the meeting. The owner of the property asks the individual to leave. If the individual refuses, the owner of the property contacts the police for trespassing.

Mind you, we have board meetings in the home of other board members.

If they are directors:

We haven't ran into that issue.

If I was leading the meeting, it would be similar to any instructor dealing with a disruptive student.

See:

Dealing with Disruptive Student Behavior from Stanford University

How do I Deal with a Disruptive Team Member?

10 Tips for Dealing With Difficult People at Work