As companies get larger the need to address softer issues become more and more important – like inter department communication etc – and if you work in one of these companies the chances are you have or will be pulled of into a working group or committee or forum at some point.
Sadly words like - working group; committee or forum – tend to drain the life out of most people – despite the fact that they may indeed be inspired by the intent of the group.. and why?
Well as I see it, the stigma associated with things like this is they tend to just waffle on in hypothetical discussions or just plain neon-blue sky thinking, and in the end can be ineffectual – and in many cases they are exactly that.
How do you protect the integrity of the group ?
My suggestion is this. Up front, set in stone – a manifesto if you will - all the criteria for terminating the group. In fact I would suggest the purpose of the group be phrased in the context of a reason to terminate the group should it fail.
While it may seem like negative thinking to be effectively setting up assassins for your group at the outset – it is one of the best ways to protect the integrity and set the standard early for the rest of the members.
Make sure everyone buys into the termination of the group if it is not showing the value it ought to.
Set up key point to formally assess the group by whoever the stakeholder will be – and get them to answer concrete questions –not just the fluffy are we helping ? Don’t forget like you they may also be taken in by the interesting ideas and discussions “that may come out of it – but when the rubber hits the road – the ideas are a distant memory.
Then, even if you are loving the group and the rich discussion that it may be generating – have the courage to be the first to call the group out if it is failing to meet its objectives.
The Result
A culture where adhoc groups or committees are respected for the self culling attitude.
Now the people who were afraid to join for fear of being sucked into endless slew of “chatty” meetings – you know, the people who would actually add the real value to the group – will then likely join knowing they are free to terminate appropriately.
