How to Get a Choice Committee Seat

From the United States Congress to your local civic organization, most of the real work gets done in committees. And if you want to maximize your influence, it's important to be on the right committees. There are ways to ensure that you get the choice committee seat you want.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Stay around. Many organizations assign committees based on seniority, with those people having served the longest getting their choice of committee seats. You may not get the spot you want when you first join, but eventually you'll get to make the decision.
2. Lobby the chairman. That person is often influential in deciding who joins the panel, so if you want a choice committee seat be sure to make your feelings known to the chairman.
3. Study how they work. Understand what the committee does, and how it works. You'll want to know if they tend to meet in secret, or if they are open about the process. Get to know whether the committee invites dissenting opinions, or lean towards consensus. This information can help you decide your strategy for becoming a member, or if you really want that committee seat after all.
4. Be an expert. You stand a better chance at getting your choice of committee seats if you have a good understanding of the issues they're dealing with. Show that you can bring a knowledgeable perspective to the group.
5. Watch for a formal process. Some large organizations take applications for committee assignments and ask you to fill out information ranging from your background to your interest in the committee's work.
6. Lobby other members of the organization. The support of a key member, even if they aren't on the committee you want can be crucial. Also, some organizations put choice committee seats to a formal vote of the membership.
7. Be prepared to deal. If you want a seat on a certain committee, offer your support to another member who wants a different assignment on the condition that he helps you get the spot you want. This can be especially important if you want to become chairman of that committee.