Productive committee work depends on multiple
factors – a defined mission, an effective organization, purposeful
procedures and a positive work environment.  And when it comes
to the work environment, there is no more important tool than a
realistic, reasonable Committee Code of Conduct.  Read
on to learn more.

What is a Committee Code of Conduct?

At its core, the committee “code of conduct” establishes working
guidelines for expected committee member conduct and participation.  But
the real purpose goes well beyond setting rules to “setting
expectations”.  In essense, a defined “code of conduct” says
“if you’re going to participate in this committee, this is how we
expect you to conduct yourself”.

Is this kind of code really necessary?  After all, if
you’re involved in projects, and you’re invited to join a committee, odds are you already know what is expected of you (in
terms of professional behavior and conduct).  But the committee
“code of conduct” is not about individual committee members (or
project stakeholders) – it’s about creating a positive
committee environment.

And why is that important?  At the end of the day,
a committee is a reflection of the people and projects involved. 
Projects can be difficult, and often contentious, leading to
conflicts, power struggles, and misunderstandings.  All of this
can quickly diminish committee credibility and productivity. 
On the other hand, a positive committee environment (characterized by cooperation,
collaboration, open communication and mutual respect) makes
it
easier to avoid conflicts and
focus on the job at hand.  The “code of conduct” is an
important tool for that purpose.

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Code of Conduct Benefits

What are the key benefits to be realized when you work within the
parameters of a good committee “code of conduct”?

• It puts everyone on the same page as committee work
  begins.  With the right “code of conduct” committee members
  will know exactly what is expected of them and can act
  accordingly.  It also means each member will know how he or
  she will judged for future opportunities (so it’s a motivator).
• It demonstrates that the project and committee leadership is
  committed to creating and promoting a positive working
  environment.
• It serves as a benchmark to evaluate committee member
  performance.
• It provides the basis for addressing the types of negative behaviors that
  serve to inhibit a positive committee environment.
• It improves the chances for committee success, serving to
  build credibility and confidence in committee actions.

Interaction, Participation and Communication

The committee “code of conduct” is published as part of the
documented
Committee Charter (so it can be approved by all in
advance), and at a minimum, it should cover the three (3) key aspects of
committee member conduct – interaction, participation and
communication.

Inside the Code of Conduct:

As the “code of conduct” is prepared, these are the key
guidelines to be addressed:

1. Interaction guidelines set the standard for
   how committee members are to interact with eachother (and
   others) to ensure that all parties are
   treated with proper respect, consideration and decorum.
2. Participation guideliness set the standard
   for how committee members are to carry out their assigned roles
   and responsibilities, covering timeliness, attendance, and
   living up to promises and committments.
3. Communication guidelines set the standard
   for how committee members are to share information and how and
   when the various means of communication are to be utilized,
   including memos, email, meetings and related activities.

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CHECK OUT THE PROJECT COMMITTEE TOOLKIT

If you’re looking for a fast, easy way to achieve steering committee success, you’ll find it inside
the Project Committee Toolkit. This unique, informative online course gives you everything you need to become
a committee leader and management expert. Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Learn how to save time and get better results for committee meetings, including agenda development,
  and post meeting actions (minutes preparation and follow-up).

• Learn how to organize your committees for optimal productivity, including defining the mission, setting the structure, selecting members
  and allocating responsibilities.

• Learn how to avoid conflict and promote collaboration through an effective Code of Conduct, member
  onboarding practices, and member performance evaluation.

• Build and improve committee management skills, as you learn time-saving techniques to become a more productive committee leader and project professional.

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