So, lots of workplaces create committees. They create them for all sorts of things. Anyone who works as university faculty knows this all too well. But lots of other companies do it, too. Especially large ones.

On the face of it, there’s nothing wrong with committee work. Let’s say you’re in a workplace that’s relatively democratic. And one that lacks a suffocating corporate structure. In those cases, it even has its uses. You can work with colleagues fairly and equally to get things done.

But that’s not how it works most of the time. Committees are a great way for a company to save face on some issue. Especially if and when the public perceives the company badly on the issue (e.g., racial justice, and so on). At other times, a middle manager really wants to feel important. So, he (it’s not always ‘he,’ but it usually is) organizes a committee.

When you find those latter forces at work, avoid it. No bullshit committee work, folks. It’s a waste of your time. It won’t do anything useful for the world, and it won’t get you anywhere.

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