How to run efficient meetings with parliamentary rules

Sarah Merkle is an attorney and certified professional parliamentarian with nearly 25 years of experience helping organisations run fair, efficient and orderly business meetings. Through her work with boards across nonprofit and the public sector, Sarah is known for making parliamentary procedure practical, accessible and relevant for today’s governance challenges.

In this episode, we explore why parliamentary rules matter more than ever in a time of low trust and heightened sensitivity to decision‑making processes. Sarah explains what parliamentary procedure really is — and what it isn’t — and why having clear, agreed‑upon rules can actually make meetings smoother, more inclusive and easier to manage.

We discuss common misconceptions about parliamentary rules, how they can be misused, and how boards can right‑size and customise procedures to reflect their size, culture and mission. From designing agendas that move decisions forward to encouraging productive participation and preventing meetings from becoming a free‑for‑all, this conversation offers practical guidance boards can apply immediately.

Sarah also shares insights on the critical role of the board chair in setting tone, maintaining neutrality and de‑escalating conflict, as well as how technology, including digital agendas, secure voting and online meeting tools, can support clearer, more efficient and compliant meetings.

Be sure to listen to the end for Sarah’s best advice for board administrators, chairs and governance professionals looking to use meeting time in service of the mission — not waste it — and to help board members feel heard, respected and engaged, even when decisions are difficult.

Further resources on parliamentary procedures: 

• Download a free Robert’s Rules cheat sheet 
• More helpful tips and resources from Sarah can be found on Civility.co