You have the unsought honor of a committee assignment of some importance and you are fearful? Take heart’ The committee is one of America’s most solidly established institutions, for better or for worse. Your position on this committee need not be an evil through which you must suffer. It can be an opportunity to benefit from the group in personal growth and to contribute to the process of group thinking.

‘’Aha!" you say. "Group thinking. I’ve heard that phrase before." To be sure, but what does it mean? Does it call up the memory of Maisie expounding her ideas at length while the rest acquiesce, or the battle between Joe, who wants it this way, and Hiram, who wants it t’other? Perhaps group thinking can combine the best from Maisie, Joe, Hiram and the less vocal committee members.

You, as a committee member, will either help this come about or hinder it. Take your choice. Neutrality is impossible. Since you have this assignment and you loathe wasting time, you will, undoubtedly, want to help. The question is what positive contributions will you make.

First, there is your basic attitude and you can’t fool anyone about it. If you go into the group assuming, you have all the answers, you will not endear yourself to Joe, Maisie and Hiram. Conversely, if you search with the others for a solution to the problems of the committee, even hard-headed Hiram will view you with affection.

Listening is an art. You will want to avoid being a "speech hog." You know how you hate Maisie’s endless chatter. By listening you will learn, then you will speak when you have something worth contributing. Because Hiram rubs you the wrong way you may be tempted to say almost anything just to disagree with him. Or, perhaps you admire Joe and feel an impulse to speak to please him. If such urges come, squelch them and wait for that idea which is directly to the point and helpful. Be careful at this point that you neither underestimate nor overestimate the worth of your ideas.

Help the committee confine itself to the subject under discussion. When meandering Matilda gets off on a tangent and no one seems inclined to stop her, tactfully help steer her back to the subject. You may even have to smother some of the delightful side comments your own agile mind conjures up, but it will be worth it to speed up the meeting.

In trying to see problems through the eyes of Hiram, Maisie and Joe you gain new respect for their opinions--even the ones with which you can never agree. This kind of respect makes it less embarrassing or difficult for you to change your mind when, to your absolute amazement, you discover that you may have been wrong.

None of these things is easy; however, when a reasonable number of members approach committee work this way, it will be a stimulating experience and the resulting action will be far superior to what could have been done by any individual member--even you.

You say such a committee is only a dream? Oh no - it can be a reality, and often is. But--it does not just happen. The planning for it begins with its selection from interested people. Better a smaller committee or none at all than to include deadheads. Percy may need an experience in group thinking to aid his social adjustment but the committee must not be overloaded with Percies. The majority must possess good judgment and ability to get along well with others.

Members with varying backgrounds give depth and richness to committee activities. Each member should have something distinctive to offer the group even if it is only a good place for their meeting or a car in which to transport other members.

The quality most desired in committee members is dependability. This virtue has suffered much in this freedom-saturated age but it is of utmost importance in organizational work and closely akin to loyalty. If the task of appointing a committee should ever be yours, remember that you predetermine the degree of committee effectiveness by your choice.

What if the ultimate misfortune should descend and you should find yourself chairperson!? First of all, "bone up" on the things your committee is expected to do. Remember your disgust that time Evie began with "Well, I’m not sure just what it is we’re supposed to do?" Stating the meeting’s purpose clearly at the outset gives direction to your group.

It would help greatly if along with knowledge of your task, you could muster a full measure of enthusiasm for it. Enthusiasm is impossible if you become chairperson only for prestige or because you could not find a way to avoid it. Be brave and accept only those tasks for which you have a natural enthusiasm.

Paradoxically, this enthusiasm of yours could lead to dictatorship if not tempered. Remember when George began by saying, "Now, I’ve thought this through carefully and have decided that we shall--" then doled out responsibilities to each one? The chairperson’s enthusiasm should awaken others, not smother them. Domination of a committee by one member, chairperson or not, damages the personalities involved--both the dominated and the domineering.

Perhaps the toughest assignment for any committee member is to back up personal ideas with sound reason and facts at the same time maintaining a mind alert to recognize better ideas which may come from others.

Meetings should have some system or agenda, yet allow for changes the group wishes to make. Flexibility of plan does not mean lack of plan. From the very start someone should keep a record of every decision, thus avoiding repetition and making possible reference at later meetings. Settle each problem as you go if possible. Some Eager Edgar will always get ahead of the ball so keep the agenda before the group and take one item at a time.

After determination of the plan of action, responsibilities must be assigned and record of them kept. Naturally a chairperson must have and show confidence in the others, yet it will be necessary to check with them, not on them, from time to time.

A host of little things make for committee success from correct notification of time and place of meetings to friendly farewells after adjournment. To further a feeling of unity in the group and ease in discussion be sure members know each other. Each member should take part even if you, as chairperson or member, must draw out the timid ones. You may even present a view in which you do not believe in order to stimulate thinking but be careful. This is dangerous.

Do not attempt to cover too much in any one meeting. Better have two short, successful meetings than one drawn-out, frustrating session. Keep the process realistic--no flights of fancy. After all, decisions must be made--sound decisions which will justify the existence of the committee.

Far from being the best way to lose an item of business (as the old saying goes), good committees are the backbone of any good organization and they can be fun. So, don’t groan; accept your assignment with anticipation of service and growth.

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Send questions about this website to Denise Davies at ddavies@ag.arizona.edu.   For course information or questions not included in these pages contact Dr. James Knight. Copyright (c) 1998 Department of Agricultural Education, The University of Arizona.  Website version 1.2, last updated on Thursday, August 16, 2001.