---
title: "Daily Inspiration: “Establishing a committee is a guaranteed prescription for innovation paralysis”"
canonical: https://jimcarroll.com/2016/11/establish-a-committee-kill-innovation/
updated: 2022-01-25T16:17:49+00:00
---

# Daily Inspiration: “Establishing a committee is a guaranteed prescription for innovation paralysis”

*“Establishing a committee is a guaranteed prescription for innovation paralysis”* – Futurist Jim Carroll

![committtee](/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Committtee.png)

Why are committees so bad for innovation? Here’s a list of 10 reasons….

- it sends the message that innovation is something special; that not everyone is responsible for great ideas

- it often leads to the worst form of group-think, whereas divergent thinking is the essence of innovation and creativity

- it usually results in the lowest common denominator of idea generation; mediocrity rules!

- it leads to the deferral of decisions – by design, committees can’t make decisions!

- committees breed bureaucracy; bureaucracy is the enemy of innovation

- committees, by design, seek consensus. Innovation, by its nature, requires independence of thought

- committees are ruled by inertia and inaction; innovation requires regular action and re-analysis

- people don’t like conflict. Committees seek agreement; innovation often thrives on disagreement

- committees are usually established for short term goals; innovation is, by necessity, a long term cultural initiative

- committees meet on a timed, organized, scheduled basis. Innovation is usually spontaneous and requires instantaneity

- committees are usually closed to outside thinking; innovation, by necessity, thrives on openness

*As usually, my list goes to 11! *

Innovation by committee – it’s a contradiction in terms if there ever was one!