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Edited by Chris, Maniac, Beautycare

Run a Committee

Committees can be extremely difficult to run, considering that members are volunteering their time to serve and have many additional obligations to fulfill in their daily lives. Being the chairperson means having to get everyone together to reach 1 common goal. If you have decided to lend your time to lead these volunteers, follow these steps to learn how to run a committee.

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    Define the purpose of the committee. Within any organization, there will be several committees assigned to accomplish separate tasks. Before you move forward with your volunteers, organize a meeting to ensure that everyone knows your mission and what you have to get done.
  2. 2
    Review expectations with your members. A committee is formed for a very specific purpose and for a finite amount of time. It's best to make members aware of what is expected of them during your time together, so that there aren't any surprises in the future when you organize a meeting.
  3. 3
    Assign specific roles to volunteers. Although you have been appointed to run a committee, that does not mean that you are responsible for all the work. This is why people have volunteered, so take the time to learn each person's talent or skill and delegate tasks.
  4. 4
    Develop a budget for the duration of the committee's time together. Your mission will determine how much money with which you have to work. When you assign roles, you should have chosen a treasurer who will be in charge of keeping all members accountable for the money they are allocated and spend.
  5. 5
    Write an agenda for every meeting. When you chair a committee, you have to realize that everyone's time is valuable and adhere to a strict agenda. The members have volunteered their time and want to attend a meeting that is run efficiently and does not waste time on chatter or bickering.
  6. 6
    Nurture a relationship with each member. Call every volunteer sporadically, or send each person an email on a regular basis to get to know your committee members. In addition to finding our more about them, they will feel much more comfortable in communicating with you during your time together.
  7. 7
    Assess the committee's success. It is a good idea when you chair a committee to check in periodically with members and how they are doing. Since you have been in contact with them, you should be able to ask them if they feel confident in their roles, and if not, ask what help they need to do their jobs.

Edit Tips

  • Use your meetings to bring accomplishments to the forefront as you go along so that volunteers feel appreciated for all of their hard work. This will also serve to motivate everyone to do the best job possible.
  • Respond to all requests, questions, comments or concerns corresponded to you by members on a quick and timely basis.

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Categories: Work World

Recent edits by: Maniac, Chris

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