| Committees are one of the favored whipping | | | | chairmen operate as enlightened and benevolent |
| boys of management gurus and comedians alike. | | | | autocrats. Effective committees have chairmen |
| The late comic Milton Berle said, "A committee is | | | | who lead participants to conclusions from which |
| a group of men who keep minutes and waste | | | | some results can be obtained. |
| hours." | | | | They create an environment in which all relevant |
| One bon mot holds that "A committee is a group | | | | points of view are heard, while they cause the |
| of the unfit, appointed by the unwilling, to do the | | | | committee to remain focused on its business. |
| unnecessary." | | | | They are intolerant of those who waste time. |
| It has been suggested, only partly in jest, that to | | | | They avoid two of the prime culprits behind the |
| be effective, a committee should never consist of | | | | bad reputation of committees: too many |
| more than three persons with two of them | | | | meetings and those that start late and run over |
| absent for every meeting. | | | | time. |
| And then there is perhaps the most famous and | | | | It would be a good idea to put a "sunset" rule in |
| unkindest cut of all: "A camel looks like a horse | | | | place when a committee is created. Review its |
| that was planned by a committee." | | | | purpose on a set date. Abolish if it has no current |
| What could be so wrong with anything with such | | | | or foreseeable purpose justifying it renewable. |
| a good goal as to bring together diverse talents | | | | In order to be effective, committees should be |
| and points of view to serve a cause, solve a | | | | made up of as few people as possible, all with |
| problem or make the most of an opportunity? | | | | knowledge and experience relative to the stated |
| Could it be that committees continue to get a bad | | | | purpose. Members of a committee should be held |
| rap because they produce meetings? If there is | | | | accountable for doing their homework. Those who |
| one thing more vilified than a committee, it is a | | | | consistently fail to do so or don't contribute to the |
| meeting. | | | | proceedings should be dismissed. |
| It is more likely, however, that committees have | | | | (Incidentally, did you ever notice that the people |
| gotten a bad name because they are made up of | | | | with the least knowledge of the subject at hand |
| and chaired by people with all of our human faults. | | | | are likely to take up the most time of the |
| Committees Can Be Useful | | | | committee?) |
| Despite all that, committees can still be useful | | | | Never, never depend on a committee to write a |
| tools. At least we ought to consider making | | | | report or even revise one. A committee can |
| committees all they can be before sacking them. | | | | suggest amendments; it can approve a report, |
| Committees should never be created without a | | | | but it can't compose one with any sort of |
| clearly stated purpose, put in writing and restated | | | | effectiveness. Too many spoil the soup. |
| on a regular basis. It helps to have the objectives | | | | Are you serving on a committee that wastes |
| posted in the meeting room for all to see. Each | | | | time, or one that has drifted far afield from its |
| meeting should operate off an agenda that | | | | beginning purpose? In other words, does it meet |
| reflects the committee's purpose. | | | | because it has "always" met? |
| Committees could be improved greatly if we | | | | If you answer yes to any of these questions set |
| would remember that the really effective ones do | | | | out now to get off the committee or get it |
| not do their business as purely democratic | | | | abolished. Your work will be more productive and |
| institutions. | | | | enjoyable. |
| The best committees are those where the | | | | |