High Performing Committee Leadership

1. High Performing Committee Leadership Habitat for Humanity New York State 2013 ABLE Conference October 5 Presenter: Peter Dalton, Affiliate Services Manager / NRI, U.S. Field Office, HFHI 7 Habits defined by Carol Gregory, HFHI Organizational Development Consultant

2. Objectives • Acknowledge the challenges of maintaining strong committee leadership • Review 7 habits that lead to consistency, accountability, and success. • Identify ways to promote adoption of habits • Network and learn from other affiliates.

3. Agenda • Introductions • 7 Habits of Highly Effective Committees • Supporting good habits

4. Introductions • Name • Affiliate • Committee affiliations —take note of peers at other affiliates. Peter Dalton • pdalton@habitat.org/800-HABITAT x4112 • HFHI=13 years • Affiliate Services Manger/ Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative—supervise team of field consultants {ask me about NRI} • Native New Yorker—Massena, now in Massachusetts • Founding president campus chapter-St. Lawrence, served on local board • AmeriCorps Vista/staff member-North Philly HFH-resource development • Fundraising at school for adults with disabilities

5. #1 Commit to Job Descriptions Provide a written job description to committee members. • Define reason for existence. • Tie purpose to mission. • Establish clear expectations. • Identify roles. • Specify time commitments. • don’t expect open-ended commitments • List supporting resources (my.habitat). • Primary document for orientation and training.

6. #2 Find a Chair who Understands the Big Picture Select a chair with a deep understanding of the affiliate, the mission, and the community. • Knows the history of the local affiliate and HFH as a whole. • Knows the staff, board & committees and their various roles. • Knows HFHI policies and guidelines that affect the committee such as QA. • Values to work of the committee and knows how it impacts the work of others. • Knows the work of the committee represents the affiliate to the community. **Communicate these expectations when you ask the chair (privately) to lead.

7. #3 Write Your Goals Manage the work of the committee by written short-term and long-term goals. • Goals developed by and agreed upon with committee members. • Committee goals need to align with and support affiliate goals. • Rely on goals to set priorities. • Review goals periodically.

8. #4 Meet on a Schedule Set regular meeting times and meeting locations. • Set a schedule months in advance. • Make sure committee is comfortable with meeting times and locations. • Limit any and every meeting to 90 minutes. • Record minutes at every meeting. • Distribute minutes in a timely manner.

9. #5 Share Agendas Before Meeting Set an agenda well in advance of the meeting. • Send agenda to members in advance. • Stick to the agenda. • Expect members to use agenda to prepare for the meeting.

10. #6 Pat Backs & Take Names Make sure the agenda acknowledges the contributions of specific members and be sure to record individual commitments in the minutes. • The committee chair needs to be in communication between meetings and know in advance what is going to reported. • No “gotcha” agendas. Support and encourage the success of individual members.

11. #7 Make it easy for the Board Your board needs to understand, appreciate, and support your work. • Summarize committee accomplishments and the results of the meeting for the board. • Provide the board with an executive summary whether or not you share minutes. • When action is needed--provide the board with a written resolution.