“For The Good Of The Order” – Meaning & Origin (With Examples)

The phrase “for the good of the order” is something you might hear at the end of a business meeting. If you’re unsure what it could mean or why people use it, then this article has the answers for you.

What Does “For The Good Of The Order” Mean?

“For the good of the order” is a portion dedicated at the end of certain business meetings where the employees can raise issues or suggest improvements for the business’s working. The “order,” in this case, refers to the company holding the meeting.

It’s not a common phrase for every company. If you’re reading this thinking that your company doesn’t say “for the good of the order” at the end of a meeting, that’s because they more than likely don’t.

It’s an old-fashioned phrase and one that’s not used all that much.

However, if your company or business does use it, you should know that the portion at the end of a meeting that is “for the good of the order” is strictly for suggestions to improve business or compliments.

If any new business ideas are brought up in the “for the good of the order” segment, they are likely to be ignored or discussed in the next meeting. In this way, employees are given a medium to talk about what they like (or don’t like) about current operations.

What Is The Origin Of “For The Good Of The Order”?

It might help to know the etymology and origin of the phrase and why it’s something that we like to use in professional contexts. After all, certain idioms like this don’t often make themselves known in the professional world.

Parliamentary Procedure

The first recorded use of “for the good of the order” at the end of a meeting occurred in parliamentary government.

Parliamentary procedures were segmented in specific ways to make sure they operated corrected and in good time. At the end of the parliamentary meeting, the segment was known as “for the good of the order” to discuss improvements and compliments.

We might use other names to refer to it in this way when a parliamentary meeting was broken into sections. It was up to the Speaker to decide how they would address it, but they could use any of the following:

• For the good of the order
• General good and welfare
• Open forum

“Open forum” is perhaps the most common and well-known phrase of the three, but all are good to use in these cases.

Other Places

It isn’t just parliament and governmental meetings that use “for the good of the order.”

According to Webster’s New World Robert’s Rules of Order Simplified and Applied, some companies and organizations will also include a final segment called “for the good of the order.”

In these companies, employees are given a chance to raise what they think is most important to influence business concerns or business production.

However, nothing can be raised in the “good of the order” portion at the end of a meeting that leads to new business. If something should lead to this or create a business idea, it will instead be included during the next meeting.

This helps people to know when the meeting will finish, so they can get ready to go. If they start the “for the good of the order” segment, only to discuss further business plans, there’s no telling when the meeting might finish!

Examples Of How To Use “For The Good Of The Order” In A Sentence

Some examples might help you to understand a little more about the phrase and how we can use it.

1. Does anyone have anything to raise now for the good of the order?
2. We’ll adjourn in just a moment, but I’d like to discuss a few things for the good of the order.
3. It’s time for the good of the order to be raised. Does anyone have something they’d like to say?
4. In the good of the order portion last week, I mentioned my issues, and I’m glad to tell you that everything you did worked out and fixed them!
5. For the good of the order, we must discuss everything we believe can improve overall workflow.
6. We should discuss improvements for the good of the order now before we leave for our homes.
7. We don’t have time for any more business talk. We will finish up for the good of the order if anyone has something to say.

“For the good of the order” is the section at the end of a meeting or procedure where people can discuss things that might improve operations around their organization.

Does “For The Sake Of Good Order” And “For The Good Of The Order” Mean The Same?

You might also hear the phrase “for the sake of good order.” It follows a similar idea as “for the good of the order,” and we can use it in almost the same way.

“For the sake of good order” is something we can ask somebody to do to make sure that things work in the correct way or to limit disruptions in meetings or assemblies of some kind. It isn’t identical to “for the good of the order,” but it works in a similar way.

You won’t want to use the phrases synonymously. For example:

• I need you to be quiet for the sake of good order.

This is how you might use “for the sake of good order.” We’re instructing somebody to be quiet because it will help us to hear someone else in a meeting or assembly.

• I need you to be quiet for the good of the order.

This is incorrect because it implies that if someone is quiet, overall business operations will improve (which is never going to happen).

“For The Good Of The Order” – Synonyms

If you’re not fond of the phrase, or you’d rather come up with something different, perhaps this section is for you. We’ll include some of the best synonyms you can use in place of “for the good of the order.”

• Good of the order
• General good and welfare
• Open forum
• Open discussion