Involve Your Community

Take the hiring committee, which for many leaders is designed to create buy-in but can often lead to friction and animosity. Something as simple as the name of that committee can send the wrong message, or worse, multiple messages. For example, “Search Committee” is just too vague. Is this group a decision-making body? Or are the committee members advising the hiring manager? If the latter, then a simple name change — consider ”Search Advisory Group”  — will send a subtle but clear message that this group is not acting with the power of a committee and offering advice only. Ironically, this clarification is often welcomed by members who can agree to disagree, and not worry about having to come to an impossible consensus.