What is a steering committee?

Roles and responsibilities of a steering committee

Steering committees are responsible for project management, governance and stakeholder management. Their main purpose is to offer advice and strategic direction, while overseeing a large-scale project, programme or an organisational initiative. A steering committee will help manage a team’s progress towards key benchmarks, milestones and goals. It can be particularly useful in organisations that require interactions between multiple departments.

Members of the steering committee will meet and collaborate to define project goals and scopes and are responsible for setting priorities and providing accountability. Often shortened to ‘steerco’, steering committees can help to bridge the gap between senior or upper management tiers and project teams. By providing guidance and feedback to project managers, this can help to address any issues and keep the project on track.

Who typically sits on a steering committee?

Ideally from diverse backgrounds with a range of expertise, steering committees usually consist of senior leaders and subject matter experts. However, they can also include board officers, relevant departmental employees, client representatives, and other stakeholders. There is usually a committee chair, who will guide and lead the steering committee.

Why are steering committees important?

A large-scale operational project or initiative needs ongoing monitoring to ensure that it stays on track in terms of timescales, budget and deliverables. Creating a steering committee helps to ensure projects, programmes or initiatives align with organisational goals. As well as decision-making over key deliverables, they can also provide guidance on risk management.

The role of a steering committee is to ensure all voices and viewpoints are heard, and any conflicts or risks are managed effectively. They can also ensure that the necessary resources, processes and technologies are available to help achieve the required outcomes.

Common challenges and how to make your steering committee effective

As each stakeholder’s priorities might vary, common challenges for steering committees include managing different people and ensuring communications flow smoothly. There might be overlaps between roles or pressure from other areas of the organisation to work on different projects or activities. Therefore, it’s important to clearly define roles and responsibilities to ensure accountability for any actions needed to further progress.

A steering committee requires strong leadership and needs to promote a positive environment that encourages accountability. Without effective project management and a clear definition of measurable outcomes, there is a risk that the project could fail.

Potential risks that could affect the progress of a project need to be continually identified and assessed. The steering committee’s role is to proactively address any internal and external factors that could have an impact on the project’s budget, timelines or outcomes.

Steering committees should represent all relevant parties and be kept at a manageable size – for example, around six members. It can be hard to find the right balance when it comes to an adequate number of meetings. Too many meetings will have an impact on people’s time, and too few could delay progress as people might be waiting on decisions. Meeting agendas should be set seven to 10 days in advance to allow enough time for members to prepare.

Full collaboration between the steering committee and the project team is needed to ensure everyone is motivated and aligned on the project’s deliverables. Successful articulation of project outcomes will ensure all efforts are focused on achieving specific goals.

How to excel as a member of a steering committee?

To excel as a steering committee member, you need to have a series of skills and traits, and training or coaching might also prove beneficial. From strong leadership to strategic planning and exceptional communication, members need to be able to envision and articulate project goals, ensuring alignment with the organisation.

Members need to be flexible and adaptable with a willingness to embrace change and adjust strategies to navigate shifting priorities and unforeseen circumstances. Problem-solving and analytical skills are beneficial to help develop innovative solutions and address any potential obstacles to ensure progress.

Members of a steering committee need to be able to convey ideas clearly, make decisive choices, and both inspire and guide their fellow members. They must be able to maintain open dialogue with a diverse range of stakeholders, who may have their own set of priorities. By taking an open-minded approach to feedback and learning, the steering committee can commit to continuous improvement to achieve progress and outcomes.

Example of steering committee

There are different types of steering committees, and their purpose will depend on the organisation’s goals, as well as the sector or industry.

A project steering committee is a group of individuals who collaborate on a project. Their role is to ensure progress and alignment with the organisation’s objectives, identifying and monitoring any risks. They can approve changes in scope, budget and strategic direction.

An executive committee usually consists of an executive director and board officers. Its main purpose is to lead executive board meetings by prioritising issues, setting agendas and collecting reports.

A non-profit board committee provides strategic planning, project management, and budgeting support to a board of directors.

A privacy committee has a specific function to ensure full compliance with privacy and security regulations such as GDPR. They play a vital role in risk management by collaborating with other subject matter experts and stakeholders to check an organisation’s data privacy.

A compensation committee has the role of determining compensation and benefits packages for executives. This type of committee requires a diverse range of members to adequately represent different business and industry skills.

IoD Code of Conduct for Directors

When creating a steering committee, it’s important to uphold company standards by maintaining a level of care, acting cautiously, and ensuring risk management. Following a practical behavioural framework can be useful for leaders to navigate complex situations.

As a guide to ethical practice, please see the IoD Code of Conduct for Directors.