In April 2020, with just over 18 months of experience in my career, I was asked whether I would be interested in joining a committee by a close friend. I’ve always been keen to take on new challenges and opportunities. However, before this, I had little experience of being on a committee. This left me with two questions; what is a committee and, why should I join?
One year later, I find myself in a position where I can share the valuable experiences I’ve had and the skills that I’ve developed to help provide a context for what a committee is and the benefits you can experience through joining a committee. In writing this article, I hope to encourage professionals across different industries to explore and grasp opportunities such as joining a committee and engaging in industry-wide initiatives.
In summary, a committee is a group of individuals brought together to drive an initiative, solve a problem, or act as representatives for a wider group of stakeholders. Often, committees comprise members/individuals from different parts of an organisation or industry, either as part of their paid job or as volunteers. In my case, I joined the Association for Consultancy and Engineering North West Emerging Professionals (ACE NW EP) committee as a volunteer, which was formed by the ACE EP Network, which was founded by the ACE to encourage the next generation of consultants and engineers.
Upon joining the ACE NW EP committee, I quickly realised the wider networking opportunities. I had joined a group of around 10 passionate individuals, all from various backgrounds and working for different organisations. This provides me with a valuable opportunity to expand my professional network with a diverse range of contacts and provides a platform from which we can collaborate. Collaboration is a key concept in the areas of consultancy and engineering, with many large public organisations incorporating collaboration requirements into their contracts and tenders. Diversity is a topic of significant importance and is gaining traction every day. I honestly believe that we can support collaborative efforts through diverse teams, where we can utilise different skills sets, knowledge and experience to solve problems and form innovative solutions. In this case, all the members of the committee I joined are volunteers. Whilst this is not always the case in committees, there are significant benefits; I work with a large group of diverse individuals, driven enough to offer their time (on top of their day jobs) to work together and deliver value to our fellow professionals in the field.
It is common to frame committee activity around ‘hot topics’ or areas of key focus for the organisation/association/institute that they are formed by. This means exposing those involved in committee activity to the latest ideas and industry-wide initiatives, such as Net Zero and Digitalisation. Committees provide fantastic opportunities for professionals at all levels of seniority, the ability to stay ‘ahead of the game’ with access to the latest information and innovations in the market. In my first 6 months of joining the committee, I have taken on the responsibility of organising and hosting an event (panel discussion) on ‘Net Zero’. This experience helped me to develop my communication skills through contacting and enlisting potential guest speakers. I have also learned more about the UK’s national ‘hot topic’ and target and used my newly-found experience to engage with and contribute to Net Zero discussions internal to the organisation I currently work for – Atkins.
Many roles can be set up as part of a committee. In essence, there are two key functions: managing the committee’s activities and its members and organising and delivering events. Events can take many shapes; in my experience, ‘events’ can be live presentations, webinars, articles or workshops. Initially, I helped support the organisation and delivery of events, including a webinar on Net Zero (tactical delivery). Towards the end of 2020, I was asked to take on the Deputy Chair role. This was a change to my responsibilities, resulting in a greater focus on holistically managing the committee’s activities, supporting the Chair (strategic delivery). Each of these areas requires strengths in unique skills; for many junior consultants and engineers there is a focus on technical abilities, whilst at more senior levels, there is a greater focus on softer skills sets such as communication.
It is uncommon for professionals to be involved in both tactical and strategic delivery simultaneously, although they may gain exposure to these areas over their career. Joining a committee provides the opportunity to be exposed to all these areas; whilst at the same time; holding a different level of responsibility and accountability. I see this as a form of business simulation where professionals can take on roles and undertake activities they may not have exposure to as part of their day jobs. For example, at the current stage of my career, I have had limited opportunities in leading and managing teams. Fortunately, joining a committee can expose you to such experiences, giving you a ‘head start’ once you reach that stage in your career.
In my case, it presented me the opportunity to develop my management and leadership skills with a relatively large team. We know that leadership and management encompass different values; it is not something easily developed, and I learnt that effective leadership is vital to running a committee full of volunteers! The group must have an inspirational leader, and those in charge must lead by example. Also, leaders cannot disregard their management skills, as, without effective management of time, activity and members, there may be little in terms of a group to lead.
Ultimately, joining a committee provides an abundance of opportunity for personal and professional development, although you must put in the work to derive any real benefits. It is a dedication of time, something that seems to fly by as I get older! That doesn’t seem to have stopped me though, as I find myself as Deputy Chair for two committees now, sharing all the benefits I’ve derived. This article started with two questions, followed by a very long answer, which I hope you’ve found useful. If you’ve reached the end of this piece, I thank you, and I look forward to one day reading about your thoughts on joining a committee.