Starting a committee?

Starting a committee?

Starting a committee can seem like an overwhelming task. Understanding what a committee is and some ideas on how to get started can make starting your first committee much easier. A committee is a group of committed people passionate about an issue, who work together for change in their workplace, their community and their union. Committees can be struck to achieve a specific goal, for example, an election committee, or they can focus on a larger theme like an equity committee.

What do you need?

A clear purpose

Nothing ruins a committee’s efforts like the lack of a meaningful, clearly stated purpose. Without a clearly stated, reasonable set of goals the committee will not have the focus it needs to be successful.

A well-informed leader

Most committees start with one or two people taking on the initiative to get things started. They for the most part take on an initial leadership role. The primary duty of the leader is to guide the group’s discussions. He/she should encourage every member to participate in the meetings and keep the discussion focused on the matter at hand.

Dedicated members

Successful committees depend on committed members, and these members may change over time and that’s okay. Committees often need new ideas and different voices. Making sure that your committee has a diverse membership is very important, this could mean having a diversity of skills as well as a diversity of needs and wants. Try to recruit people with different perspectives.
Remind members that they should be receptive and open to new ideas and other people’s opinions as work is accomplished in a committee through the give-and-take of an open, uninhibited discussion.
Committees are an integral part of every successful organization. A committee with a clear purpose, a well-informed leader and dedicated members.