Athletes describe the concept of “flow” as “getting into the zone.” But flow doesn’t work only for athletes. According to recent research, a “flow” state of mind contributes to greater productivity, better health and increased well-being.  

In a K-Kids club, committees are an effective way of creating flow — by facilitating efficient meetings and getting important club work done. The concept was coined in the 1970s, when the psychologist Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi described the mental state in which people are “so immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity that we lose sense of space and time.”  

Committee work often allows club members to spend 10 to 15 minutes or longer completing tasks — long enough for that state of focus and enjoyment to occur. That’s because members do specific work that matches their interests, uses their talents and lets them excel.  

How to get started 

To begin, help club members identify their interests and talents: 

  • Use worksheets provided in the “K-Kids Member Guide” and the “K-Kids Service Guide” to determine what club members are passionate about and what they’re good at doing.  
  • Ask reflection questions after completing the worksheets. Encourage club members to share examples of projects they completed where they became so focused that they lost track of time. Ask them to share how this felt.  
  • Offer an example of a project you completed in which you experienced flow.  

After this exercise, make a list of committees that offer options for club members to serve in different ways. Depending on the size of your club, provide a selection of committees so club members can find a good fit. Kiwanis suggests all clubs (with enough members to host committees) have at least the following committees:  

  • Service Project Committee. 
  • Marketing Committee. 
  • Recruitment Committee.  

Other types include the Fundraising Committee, Awards & Contests Committee and Community Partnerships Committee.  

Committee leaders 

Appoint and train a committee chair to lead each group. Use the “Role of a Committee Chair” resource as a guide.  

As the committees start working: 

  • Encourage the committee chair to ask members about their interests and strengths and to match club members with committee tasks that suit them.  
  • Provide examples of how a specific skill set can help someone thrive at doing a specific task. For instance, someone who loves drawing can serve on the Marketing Committee and help others make promotional flyers and posters for upcoming club events.  
  • Check in with club members to make sure they are happy with the committee they chose and feel like they’re doing things they enjoy, using their talents well and feeling invested in their tasks.  

Thank you for helping your K-Kids club succeed — with the kind of service that helps members find their flow.