Who is in charge here?

That's an all too common question when you walk into a room with seemingly no order or with nothing running according to schedule. Everyone's mingling about, with no care in the world, steering clear of the disorder and trying hard to pretend that they have no idea what the schedule is.

The breakdown

The fact that you are posing that question means that you have noticed one, two or both things.
1. There is an order that's not being followed
2. There is a schedule that's not being followed

What next?

Whereas the preference is always to ask that question loudly, the better option would be to ask the same question inwardly and if you can't seem to figure out who's in charge, take charge

Provoke order

If it's chairs that need arranging, pick up one, place it in a row, pick up the next, repeat the same process all the way across the room. Try to make the lines as crooked as possible and leave no room for any aisles. You will soon have some willing volunteers join you to 'show you how its done'... within no time, all the chairs will be neatly lined up in their rows.

Surprise someone

If you've got a copy of the schedule, run up to the loudest conversationalist in the room and say "You're speaking first, and you've got less than a minute to prepare". He/she will most likely point out who's in charge and possibly whoever else has got to speak before them.

The wrap

We all love to be associated with good. We are however never too keen to lead the change. We all love to ponder on how it can be done better. We are however never to keen to take the first step.

It's time to take charge. Don't spend any other minute asking 'Who is in charge here?' You are.