By Sandra Michael

Sandra Michael has been Director of Athletics at Holy Family University since 1985 and currently serves on the NCAA Division II Management Council. She was selected NAIA Athletic Director of the Year in 2002 and NCAA Division II Northeast Athletic Director of the Year in 2010 by NACDA. She can be reached at: smichael@holyfamily.edu.

I love being an athletic director. It includes responsibility and more than the occasional risk, but also daily rewards of seeing young people grow and succeed.

What I thrive on most are the complex challenges so often encountered and charting the best course to arrive at a positive resolution. Those are probably the main reasons I'm drawn to serving on committees at the conference and national levels.

In addition to balancing the demands of running the athletics department at Holy Family University, I have chaired the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee for two years and am currently in my second year of a four-year term on the Division II Management Council and the Membership Committee. I have served as NAIA Chair for District 19 and President of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). I also currently chair the CACC's Ethics Committee.

These roles have afforded me an insider's perspective on the intricacies and inner workings of those organizations that govern my athletics program. At the same time, they introduce me to developing trends in the industry, which allows for more effective guidance of my institution's athletics department.

Perhaps most importantly, working on national committees gives me a sense of empowerment. I relish being on the front lines of change as well as having the opportunity to influence direction at the conference and national levels.

Foot in the Door
So how do you get a seat at the table? Becoming nominated for a position varies greatly depending on the role and the governing body, but here are a few advantages you can give yourself.

The first step is to get your professional and personal life in order. We all know that working in athletics is not a 9-to-5 schedule, so accepting committee responsibilities means working even longer hours. It can also involve extensive travel away from home and campus. Get the support of your superiors, staff, and family members and establish protocols on all levels to compensate for your absence.

Once all that is in order, it is equally important to establish yourself amongst your peers as a competent administrator who is interested in becoming involved in committee service. Participate in extracurricular organizations, volunteer for conference work and regional advisory committees, and host events as frequently as possible. These types of activities demonstrate your interest and give your colleagues a chance to see your leadership and decision-making skills in action.

Additionally, share your ambitions with fellow administrators, including athletic directors, conference commissioners, and university presidents. The best place to network is at meetings. Fully participate and take the time to get to know your peers on both a professional and personal level.

Another important aspect of serving on committees, especially those related to the NCAA, is to make sure your department is in compliance with all rules. Colleagues aren't interested in listening to your opinions on legislation when your own department cannot abide by the rules.

Following these steps will set you on the right path to earning a spot on a national committee. How, then, do you maintain your place at the table?

Team Member
Being prepared is probably the most important aspect of becoming a respected committee member. If you want to excel, you must do your homework prior to meetings. Arrive with good ideas that contribute to the overall goals of the committee and improve the way it functions.

Another key is communicating well. Work on articulating your ideas in a concise, efficient, and persuasive manner. A great way to do this is to cite personal examples or situations that are relevant to the committee's work.

Communicating entails being a good listener, too. It is important to be open to other ideas, even if you disagree. Try to respect alternate opinions and listen to them with an open mind.

As you settle into your role on a committee, don't be afraid to seek the advice of more experienced members. Oftentimes, you may find yourself unable to grasp a particular situation, past example, or even the occasional acronym. We've all shared those moments of doubt, so don't hesitate to ask for clarification. Then be sure to follow up with a comment of appreciation and understanding.

Before long, you will begin to pick up on the subtleties of committee interactions and the players involved. Observe how others contribute and interact, and quickly differentiate between the ones who offer sound advice and those who speak just to be heard. And, of course, don't be that person.

Good Decisions
The ultimate goal of committee work is to make decisions that benefit all involved. That means it's important to always have a cooperative approach. You may not know your fellow committee members well, but they likely share the same dedication to student-athlete welfare and higher education that you do. That realization will help foster a deliberative decision-making process based on consensus.

Similarly, appreciate that there are numerous ways to tackle the same situation. Stubbornness, egoism, and selfishness are rarely useful when attempting to pass meaningful policies.

When listening to arguments and making decisions, keep in mind the presenting committee member, the goals of the organizing body, and the overall focus of what is best for the student-athlete. Then think deeply about the consequences of committee decisions and how they will impact other areas. With well-executed ambition, a cooperative philosophy, and a desire to creatively solve problems, you can positively influence athletics by participating in committee service.