Success by committee

Tags: Committees

In the twenty-five plus years I have worked in the professional services community, I have served and worked on numerous committees. A well-run committee is critical to the management of any organization or firm to get work completed efficiently, effectively and creatively. All too often, I have watched committees fail when they had formed with all of the best of intentions.

True story: back in the heady days of the .com and tech boom, the ad agency I worked for got a client who was going to revolutionize computer diagnostics and repair via the Internet. There were only a handful of companies offering this service and our client had been the first to market. Among their many other marketing goals, they wanted to establish their leadership, highlight their cutting-edge technology and portray themselves as innovative and entrepreneurial. They offered an exciting product and service, and it was a great opportunity for them to stand out in the industry.