When I'm at work: Working on a committee - Learner's workbook

What skills do you need to be a committee member?

Representing other people on a workplace committee carries lots of responsibility with it.

To represent other people means that you:

• are a good listener
• talk with co-workers about issues to take to meetings
• talk with co-workers about issues raised in meetings
• tell co-workers about decisions made in meetings
• keep co-workers up to date with any actions or planning from meetings
• make sure to bring the team's voice to the meetings
• are well prepared for committee meetings (have read minutes and reports, know about team issues and comments to raise)
• ask questions during meetings
• participate in meetings and in the work of the committee.

Committee members learn how to:

• represent other people's opinions and ideas
• ask questions
• take turns at talking at the right time
• share information and ideas
• solve problems
• listen to other people's ideas
• respect other people's ideas and suggestions
• discuss ideas
• make decisions.

Louise attends the meeting of the quality committee each Tuesday morning. At the meeting, she is asked to raise any issues from her work area. Her response is always that there are no issues.

When she returns from the meeting, her supervisor asks her to tell the workers in her area what was discussed and any decisions made at the meeting.

Louise's response is often that she has nothing to report.

At the last meeting of the DB Services safety committee, Bill reported that someone was nearly hit by a forklift because they hadn't used the safe walkway in the warehouse.

The committee talked about the best way to make sure people used the safe walkways. Sally, the safety officer, said she would get some new posters and put them up. Bill knew that some people in his team didn't notice the posters. He thought that part of the problem was that the markings on the floor had worn off. He suggested getting a painter to come in and put the markings back.

Carl listened and spoke up next. He said that he agreed with Bill and Sally. His idea was that the people who worked in the warehouse could repaint the floor markings and put up the posters. Then they would know where the safe walkways were and what was on the posters.

The committee agreed that his idea was a good one and that is what they would do.