Conflict management

Conflicts are part of life – including the everyday life of an association. Often, conflicts are the result of a lack of clear definitions of tasks and responsibilities. They put a strain on cooperation and affect the working environment. The sooner conflicts are addressed, the easier they can be solved. Regular analyses of cooperation in the annual retreat, where no agenda items put participants under pressure, help to prevent conflicts. If a collegial conversation is no longer possible, the support of external experts should be sought.

At a general meeting, there may be disturbances, for example, if someone does not stick to the agenda, interrupts others while speaking or takes up too much speaking time. The chairperson of the meeting is entitled to call such persons to order. If there are interminable interventions, a procedural motion to restrict the speaking time or to close the list of speakers may be helpful. If, in spite of an admonition, someone does not adhere to the assembly rules and this leads to a considerable disturbance, this person can be excluded from the meeting. If the debate becomes tumultuous because of very different or conflictual points of view, the chairperson can request an interruption to discuss the further procedure in a calmer setting with the other members of the committee or, if need be, with a representative from each of the fractious groups. If it is not possible to continue the meeting, it can be cancelled and resumed at another time.

In a meeting, sometimes there are people who talk too much or are deviating from the actual topic and thus disturb the meeting considerably. If they don’t comply with the exhortation to be brief or to come to an end, they may be interrupted by the chairperson. To be able to continue with the ordinary meeting, they may also be forbidden to speak. A more lenient measure is the speaking time restriction. Both measures can also be demanded from among the members present with a procedural motion.

Question

As we have constant disputes due to a fellow committee member, we want to remove him from office. How do we need to proceed?

Answer

Generally speaking, committee members are unable to remove or vote out a colleague themselves. The committee members are elected by the general meeting and only the general meeting has the authority to relieve them of their duties.

Following the passing of a majority resolution within the committee, a motion can be put forward at the general meeting for the colleague in question not to be re-elected. It is, however, down to the general meeting to decide whether to pursue such a motion or not. Whether choosing this path will resolve the conflict situation is another matter. Problems are often not simply tied to a lone individual. It is possible that seeking out the cause of the conflict and holding joint discussions will prove a more promising solution.

A debate (French débattre: to beat down) is a kind of disputation that, unlike the discussion, follows formal rules and usually is used in preparation for a vote. Debates are a significant element of democracy in associations and they usually take place during general meetings about the agenda items. When conducting a debate, it is important to facilitate lively discussions and not to restrict the members’ freedom to state their positions, yet to respect the time frame for each topic. Active participation by the members expresses a vivid commitment to the association.