Check your agenda at the door

When you are asked to join a task force, coalition or alliance there is usually an assumption made on the part of the organizers that you will leave your personal agenda at the door and apply your skills and experiences toward achieving the goals of the group.

Unfortunately far too often this is an implicit assumption instead of being explicitly stated and agreed to by all the participants.

Ideally the agenda and goals of the group will be similar to your personal ones but they will almost never be identical. If they are not close enough that you can fully support them you are better off not joining in the first place than frustrating the process and work of the group by constantly trying to make their agenda your agenda.