Such Complexities are normal!
Effective Committees recognise and deal with this!
Use it or lose it! A well known phrase – true for muscles, true for talents and in fact also true for Committees.
When is the last time your group assessed itself as a group?
Are meetings now just a habit or do they result in actions to be undertaken for the next meeting?
Are new members, new suggestions taken seriously?
Are all new suggestions actually explored?
Are group goals actually understood and agreed upon by all?
Are views entrenched?
Is there a fear to “let go”.?
Are new people immediately welcomed to the team or must they suffer the “Newby” Syndrome?
How does your group measure up to the above? The fact that you are reading this and care about your organisation is enough justification for you to suggest the following:
“Brainstorming Session” –
Together write your ideas on a board where it’s safe to “Suggest Anything” even crazy stuff! Together discuss it, add to it, laugh about it! Enjoy it – and you might be surprised at the actions you agree to take as a result. Try very hard to act upon this session!
“Share the Chair”
A simple exercise – Rotate the Chair for the next Six Meetings – See the difference six different Chairpersons make to the Groups Dynamic!
Remember where Action = Energy
Then Inaction = Lethargy
If the group feels tired it’s time to take action. If you think that an outside influence may be beneficial talk to your local Partnership Company – they may be able to recommend a Facilitator.
You may also be interested in this article: History of Volunteer Involvement in Seven Stages – a seven stage cycle relevant to Voluntary Groups who involve paid staff – Bearing in mind that most groups in Limerick do not engage paid staff the article is still stands as an example of how groups evolve and the problems and complexities that typically arise.