How many committees do you belong to? Task forces? Working groups?
Now ask yourself – how much have you accomplished? Really accomplished? And by accomplished I mean changed some paradigm; introduced some new idea that has taken hold; solved a serious problem and put it to rest.
Honest now – be hard on yourself.
OK, I am being a little hard and maybe purposefully cynical – but as Ross Perot once said, “IF you see a snake – kill it – don’t appoint a committee on snakes.”
That being said – sometimes we have to organize around issues, coalesce around problems, come together on matters of concern, and sometimes committees are critical – and actually work.
But…not always…too often not always.
They become excuses for personal points of view, single agendas, power plays.
They waste time in platitudes and soft solutions, and the world quietly or not – just passes them by…more likely not by the way.
So while some equivocate, others are acting and we need to learn from the actions.
Let me stop you right here – I am not advocating cowboy behavior, non-team work, solo flying – on the contrary!
But here is a thought – in the Army a basic unit of 3 is the most effective…think on that.
Listen:
If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee – that will do them in. Bradley’s Bromide
A suitably and appropriately cynical way to express the thought.
What’s your view? And you can answer in committee if you like….
Ah, this is a tough one. On one hand – the wisdom of crowds. On the other – the cuddly but usually ineffective woobie of consensus and group-think.
Groups are good. We certainly need to understand the value of other perspectives and opinions. But, as a society, we’re becoming too inclusive and polite. In the workplace, this too often means that everyone’s opinion matters (had any painful creative reviews lately?), that no ideas are bad (really?) and that everyone should be on board before a decision is made (glad our front-line troops weren’t surveyed about invading Normandy beforehand).
I think we need to awaken the value of personal achievement and individual accountability. But let me check with a few others first and I’ll get back to you on this…
I belong to NONE_ I realized over 6 months ago that I was at capacity and I needed a break. No groups, unions or committees. I need a little me time!
Dr. Letitia Wright
The Wright Place TV Show
http://wrightplacetv.com
http://www.twitter.com/drwright1
I belong to several. And rather than get frustrated, I’ve tried to learn more about the behaviours of groups to try and turn it to my advantage.
e.g. see http://www.spring.org.uk/2009/09/how-groups-form-conform-then-warp-our-decision-making-productivity-and-creativity.php
Alternatively – fewer people = faster decisions.
Turn it to an advantage — I like that — teher are no right answers here — I was just being provacative — but having said that…..
Together we’re better. And none of us is as creative as all of us. Isnt the trick to make sure the committee/group is made up of people who are absolutely necessary, and that a common purpose is shared?