Ideas to Generate Participation in Committees

Sections of this topic

    Ideas to Generate
    Participation in Committees

    Vast majority of content
    in this topic applies to for-profits and nonprofits. This book also covers this topic.

    Developing, Operating and Restoring Your Nonprofit Board - Book Cover

    © Copyright Carter
    McNamara, MBA, PhD

    Also consider
    Related Library Topics

    Learn More in the Library’s Blogs Related to Participation in Committees

    In addition to the articles on this current page, see the following blogs which
    have posts related to Organizational Design. Scan down the blog’s page to see
    various posts. Also see the section “Recent Blog Posts” in the sidebar
    of the blog or click on “next” near the bottom of a post in the blog.

    Library’s Boards
    of Directors Blog

    Library’s
    Nonprofit Capacity Building Blog


    To Increase Attendance and/or Participation in Committees

    • Ensure committee chairs understand and can convey the role of the committee
      to members, and that the chair and members have up-to-date job descriptions.
    • Ensure adequate orientation that describes the organization and its unique
      services, and how the committee contributes to this mission.
    • Remember that the organization and its committees deserve strong attendance
      and participation. Don’t fall prey to the perspective that “we’re lucky
      just get anyone.” Set a standard for the best.
    • Have ground rules that support participation and attendance. Revisit the
      ground rules every other meeting and post them on the bottom of agendas.
    • Let go of “dead wood.” It often help to decrease the number of
      committee members rather than increase them.
    • Consider using subcommittees to increase individual responsibilities and
      focus on goals.
    • Conduct yearly committee evaluations that includes a clear evaluation process
      and where each committee member evaluates the other members, and each member
      receives a written report about their strengths and how they can improve their
      contributions.
    • Attempt to provide individual assignments to the committee members.
    • Have at least one staff member participate in each committee to help with
      administrative support and providing information.
    • Monitor quorum requirements for the entire board (as set forth usually
      in ByLaws), or the minimum number of board members who must be present for
      the board to officially enact business. This quorum, when not met, will serve
      as a clear indicator, or signal, that the board is in trouble.
    • Develop a committee attendance policy that specifies the number of times
      a member can be absent in consecutive meetings and in total meetings per time
      period.
    • Generate minutes for each committee meeting to get closure on items and
      help members comprehend the progress made by the committee.
    • In committee meeting reports, include noting who is present and who is
      absent.
    • Consider having low-attendance members involved in some other form of service
      to the organization, e.g., a “friends of the organization,” or something
      like that, who attends to special events rather than ongoing activities.
    • Have a “summit meeting” with committee members to discuss the
      low attendance problem, and use a round-table approach so each person must
      speak up with their opinions.
    • Rotate in new members every year.

    Return to All About Boards of Directors


    For the Category of Boards of Directors:

    To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may want to review some related topics, available from the link below. Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.

    Also, scan the Recommended Books listed below. They have been selected for their relevance and highly practical nature.

    Related Library Topics

    Recommended Books