Now that we’re all nodding in agreement about these tenets, why are we simultaneously recalling occurrences where members arrived late or not at all; came unprepared; commandeered meetings; allowed them to devolve into gelatinous blobs of pseudo-purpose; or simply had no bloody idea why we were even meeting?
If you’re a board chair who has allowed this to occur, tighten your belt and exhibit some leadership by bringing these basics back into the fold. Failure to do so indicates a lack of respect for the time and commitment of your board members, and can lead to decisions on their part to avoid or minimise future attendance. And of course, if you’re that ill-prepared, domineering, pontificating, or late/no-show member, the message you send is you’re more important than other directors. Further, your blasé attitude can become infectious, thereby jeopardising overall board and mission effectiveness.
In all cases, airing out underlying grievances or issues can pave the way for productive, inclusive, and engaged meetings.
--From "How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Nonprofit Hell"