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Q&A for How to Run a Committee
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QuestionWhat should I avoid when running a committee meeting?Pete Canalichio is a Brand Strategist, Licensing Expert, and Founder of BrandAlive. With nearly 30 years of experience at companies such as Coca-Cola and Newell Brands, he specializes in helping brands find the most authentic parts of their story to build a brand strategy. Pete holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Physics from the United States Naval Academy. In 2006, he won an MVP Award from Newell Brands for his contributions to their Global Licensing department. He’s also penned the award-winning book, Expand, Grow, Thrive.While running a committee meeting, never dominate the discussion because it will stifle the input of other members and discourage collaboration. You must avoid the points that take you off the agenda, give vent to unfruitful tangents, and thus waste time. Make sure not to forget the importance of setting clear objectives and distributing the agenda beforehand, as it leads to a random, lack-of-focus kind of situation. Don't let the conversation be dominated by one or two other voices, but ensure that there is balanced participation. And lastly, don't forget to follow up on action items, which can erode accountability and momentum.
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QuestionCan I add a person to a committee without discussing it with any member of the committee?Community AnswerYou can, but it wouldn't be right. If the members of the committee haven't spoken together and agreed to put that person on the committee, there could be tension, resentment, and likely lack of cooperation. It would be better to communicate your intention in advance and give the rest of the committee the opportunity to think on it and discuss their thoughts.
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QuestionHow much involvement should nonpaying team members have if they want to attend the committee meetings compared to the actual committee members?Community AnswerAttendance really shouldn't be a problem if they don't pay, but make sure they know they won't be voting members. If the topics at hand are not that serious, allow for them to be a part of the discussion, but put the standing members above them in speaking preference. Let them know they may or may not get access to materials depending on cost or availability.
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QuestionCan a committee member make a decision without informing the other members?Community AnswerNo. If you are doing so, then it is not a committee. The purpose of the committee is to discuss a matter and make an informed decision on a collective basis. There may be situations where not all the members agree on a certain item, but you have to have a majority.
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QuestionWho governs the conduct of the officers and committee? If I believe something the committee is doing is suspicious, who should this be reported to?Community AnswerConduct of Committee members should be governed by their direct supervisor. Furthermore, the governing body of the committee should be made aware of conduct that does not reflect the integrity of the organization. Suspicious activity by a committee should be reported to, again, the governing body, or an ethics committee or representative.
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QuestionWhere do I find a form to start a committee?Community AnswerThis depends on the organization the committee falls under. For a public committee, try a county commissioner; for one inside a business, you'll need to speak with your boss; for a personal committee, you can find templates online to help you draft rules and agendas as well as important ethics guidelines to make it more official.
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QuestionBefore a committee meeting, is it normal practice to ask for members comments and suggestions to go on the agenda?ItsJust_MeCommunity AnswerYes. It is great to receive input from fellow committee members! Although, I recommend doing this at the end of the meeting while people are asking questions.
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QuestionCan I run a committee as a student?ItsJust_MeCommunity AnswerOf course! Committees are run by people of lots of different ages. Although, it might be unfit if the committee is made up of adults. If you are running this committee, the questions to be asking yourself should be: Do I have enough time to commit myself to this?
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QuestionDo I need an election to form a committee?ItsJust_MeCommunity AnswerIt depends on what kind of committee. If it is one started by a group of people rather then just one, you should have an election. If you started this on your own, or it is a small committee, then you might just want to give out positions.
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