Every executive committee has had one at some time – a member who can only see one point of view (theirs) and for whom being outvoted is evidence of either mass stupidity or a sinister conspiracy.
They dominate meetings and either badger everyone else into submission or, if that fails, mount disruptive campaigns within the building to overturn decisions.
“Because he is so persistent, aggressive, and negative, EC members have caved in to his point of view in the past,” JudyE wrote to the Flat Chat Forum, wanting to know what they can do to counter this particular breed of highly disruptive boardroom bully.
She goes on to say that the rogue EC member has enough support in the building to ensure he can’t be voted off the committee at a general meeting, as well as possibly revoking decisions with which he disagrees.
Meanwhile Crazy Larry tells his supporters what a pack of idiots everyone else is. But they don’t see him in action and some may give him their proxy votes to get him to go away. So what do you do?
Firstly I would get serious. Find a book on how to conduct meetings and take a formal agreement (preferably at a general meeting) to abide by its recommended standing orders. The website masterofmeetings.com has some good suggestions.
Or your chairman could limit discussion on each item on the agenda to say five minutes before you take a vote and insist that everyone has their say at least once before anyone gets to speak for a second time.
If you have rock solid rules, you can then censure Crazy Larry for bad behaviour, which will appear in the minutes.
Finally, get owners to agree that all meetings should be recorded (audio is fine) and create a Facebook page where you post an unedited audio from each meeting.
Once his supporters hear what a bully Crazy Larry is, they may be less keen to support him and that might calm him down a bit.
How would you control a rogue EC member? Go here to read the original discussion.