Take a minute and think about the meeting you'll be leading or speaking at. What type of meeting is it? A business meeting? Civic group meeting? Fraternal organization meeting? Knowing will help you decide just how formal or informal your conduct and the conduct of the members should be, what its membership will be, the order of business, and so on.

Robert's Rules can be used at the most formal of meetings, and the most informal. The idea is to use the rules to encourage democratic debate (and corresponding code of conduct), to have a structure, and to have a roadmap for a desired outcome.

Here's a quick list of the basic types of meetings (more on each in Chapter 3):

• Regular meeting

• Special or called meeting

• Annual meeting

• Session

• Executive session

• Convention

• Adjourned meeting

More and more meetings are being conducted by means that were not in existence at the time that Robert wrote his book. Conducting meetings by audio conference (telephone conference call) or videoconference (televised conference) have become more efficient, less expensive ways to get groups together for meetings, especially when travel can be time-consuming and unpredictable these days. Meetings can also be conducted by e-mail and electronic chat room setups. There are pros and cons to each of these types of meetings that will be discussed further in Chapter 3.

You can use Robert's Rules as a guide to running any meeting of any type, whatever the setting. Take the time to make a study of them and you'll be assured of the most effective meetings you've led or attended. They are the leadership tool no one should be without in this fast-paced world.