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Writer's pictureSusan & Renée

How to Make Committees More Effective - Part 1


Committees can be a wonderful vehicle in an organization. They allow many voices to be heard, efficiently divide work and allow for deep dives into material that may be more difficult for larger groups to accomplish. When managed well a solid committee structure is essential to a vibrant organizational culture. 


When you are participating in a well-run committee it can be an energizing experience. On the other hand, when committees are not run efficiently, this work can have the opposite effect and feel like an extra weight on your shoulders.


In order for committees to maintain their efficiency, they have to evolve with the organization. Sometimes committees can seem to have a life of their own. Once established they continue from year to year with little thought of how they are balanced with newly formed committees or other changes in the organization. 


To assure that committees continue to serve a company’s needs it is helpful to develop a framework to assess committee work. This framework should look at both how committees help an organization meet its goals and how employees are affected by committee demands. Committees should help build a robust culture, not be a drag on productivity.  


An effective evaluation process begins by defining the types of committees in an organization. At G2 Solutions, we like to make it simple and suggest categorizing them in two ways.


Standing committees -These committees meet on a continual basis. Their work changes as the needs of the organization change. As they reach set goals, they re-establish new goals and objectives that align with the purpose of the committee. 


Ad hoc committees-These committees are formed for a limited period of time to address a specific need. When their work is completed, the committee is dissolved.


Using these categories as the foundation for committee assessment, the next task is to create an efficient workflow for the creation and disbanding of committees. You want the committee structure to be flexible and meet the changing needs of the organization, but not so flexible that every new idea becomes a committee or that it starts to feel like the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing.


Having a clear route to effectively create committees, evaluate them throughout their lifespan and break up committees when the time comes has many benefits. It allows you to work smarter not harder and the passion and intellectual energy of a committed community are put into action in the most efficient way.


Check out our next blog where we will share best practices for creating and disbanding committees.


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