"委員会は議事録を作成して時間を失うグループです"

When you hear the phrase 'a committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours,' it’s calling out the inefficiency often found in group meetings. Let’s break it down. The core idea is pretty straightforward: committees, which are meant to make decisions and get things done, often end up wasting a lot of time. Instead of making swift decisions, they keep detailed records (minutes) of their discussions while achieving very little—hence, losing hours.

Think about when this might have been said. Committees have been around forever—whether in government, organizations, or even clubs. This quote captures a frustration that’s been felt by many who’ve ever sat through a long, drawn-out meeting. It’s likely born out of countless experiences where decisive action was needed, but instead, endless talking and debating happened.

Imagine you’re part of a local community group that wants to organize a charity event. You have great intentions, but every meeting drags on. You discuss the same points over and over, record detailed minutes, but no one makes concrete decisions. At the end of the meeting, you’ve spent three hours and have nothing to show—no date set, no venue booked, nothing. It’s a perfect example. The committee has kept minutes but lost hours.

So, what’s the advice here? To avoid falling into this trap, keep meetings focused and decision-oriented. Here’s a practical tip: always set an agenda beforehand. Stick to it. Assign roles—who’s keeping time, who’s moderating, who’s taking those minutes. Limit discussion time for each point. And, crucially, make sure every meeting ends with clear action items and deadlines. This way, you’re ensuring every minute spent is productive.

Now, let’s talk about a relatable scenario. Picture Susan, the manager at a marketing firm. She’s got a big campaign to launch and calls a committee meeting. In the past, these meetings were a nightmare—dragging on with no clear outcomes. This time, Susan decides to change things. She sends out an agenda beforehand, making sure everyone knows the purpose of the meeting. She assigns roles: Jake’s on timekeeping, Maria’s moderating, and Tom’s taking minutes. As the meeting progresses, Susan keeps things on track. They discuss each point briefly, make decisions, and move on. By the end of an hour, they’ve set the campaign launch date, assigned tasks to team members, and everyone knows what they need to do. Susan’s committee kept minutes but didn’t lose hours—quite the opposite.

This approach doesn’t just save time; it boosts morale and productivity. People leave feeling accomplished, not drained. The wisdom here is simple but powerful: focus on action, not endless discussion. You’ll find your committees—and your life—become much more efficient.

So, next time you’re in a meeting, remember this quote. Don’t let your committee be one that loses hours. Instead, be like Susan. Keep things tight, focused, and action-oriented. You might just transform those dreaded meetings into ones people actually look forward to because they get things done. Imagine that! A committee that actually works. Now, wouldn’t that be something?