Inside the Committee: The Ordinary Committee Member

There Is No Such Thing

Of all the positions on a choir committee, none is more poorly named than that of the Ordinary Committee Member.

The title suggests somebody who occupies a seat without carrying significant responsibility. It implies a supporting role, secondary to the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and other office holders. In reality, effective committees understand that there is nothing ordinary about the position at all.

Every committee member shares collective responsibility for the governance, leadership and future direction of the choir.

This is an important distinction because many people join committees believing that their primary role is simply to attend meetings and vote occasionally when required. While attendance is important, effective committee membership demands much more than physical presence.

The strongest committee members bring judgement.

They listen carefully, contribute thoughtfully and help the committee reach sound decisions. They understand that leadership is not confined to those holding formal titles. A Treasurer may oversee finances and a Secretary may manage administration, but every committee member has a responsibility to ask questions, challenge assumptions and ensure decisions are being made in the best interests of the organisation.

Good committees depend upon this.

A committee composed entirely of passive observers rarely functions effectively. Discussions become dominated by a small number of voices, alternative perspectives are lost and important risks may go unnoticed. Healthy committees benefit from members who are willing to contribute constructively, even when doing so requires asking difficult questions.

Importantly, contribution is not the same as opposition.

Some committee members mistakenly believe their role is to challenge every proposal placed before them. Others take the opposite approach and support every suggestion without scrutiny. Neither extreme is particularly helpful. Effective committee members understand that their responsibility is to evaluate ideas objectively and contribute towards better decision-making.

The role also carries a duty to look beyond personal interests.

Choirs are communities and committee members are often singers themselves. This can occasionally create tension between what benefits an individual and what benefits the organisation. Strong committee members recognise that their responsibility extends beyond their own section, friendship group or musical preferences. Decisions should be guided by what serves the long-term interests of the choir as a whole.

Another important responsibility is supporting the work of others.

Committees sometimes fall into the trap of assuming that office holders carry all meaningful responsibility. In practice, the workload of any successful choir is far too large to be managed by a handful of individuals. Ordinary committee members often provide the additional capacity that allows projects to progress, events to succeed and initiatives to move from idea to reality.

This support can take many forms. It may involve helping with concert planning, participating in recruitment initiatives, assisting with audience development, contributing professional expertise or simply undertaking tasks that need to be completed. The precise contribution is less important than the willingness to contribute.

The most effective committee members also understand the importance of collective responsibility.

Committees will not always reach unanimous decisions. Disagreements are natural and often healthy. However, once a decision has been made, committee members have a responsibility to support it publicly, even if they argued against it privately. A committee that continues debating decisions outside the committee room quickly undermines its own effectiveness.

Perhaps the greatest value an ordinary committee member brings is perspective.

Office holders can become consumed by the demands of their particular roles. The Treasurer sees finances. The Secretary sees administration. The PRO sees communication. Ordinary committee members are often best placed to view issues more broadly and consider how decisions affect the organisation as a whole.

For that reason, the title can be misleading.

There is nothing ordinary about helping to guide the future of a choir.

The position may not come with a specific portfolio or formal authority, but it carries an important responsibility. Effective committees are not built solely upon strong Chairs, Secretaries and Treasurers.

They are built upon committee members who understand that leadership is a shared responsibility.

Three Questions Every Ordinary Committee Member Should Ask

Am I contributing meaningfully to discussions, or simply attending meetings?

Am I considering what is best for the choir as a whole rather than for myself or my section?

Am I helping to turn decisions into actions, or assuming somebody else will do it?