Blog
Your “Next Normal” – What I’m suggesting right now …
It’s day 64 of sheltering in place for me. During this time, I’ve talked to many association professionals, presented several webinars to help develop solid go-forward strategies, and collected a variety of resources (which is available here). As a result of this...
Let’s Talk About Grief
My first association job was working for an international organization of funeral homes. My job included producing materials that members could buy for the families they served. “After the Loss” was a booklet I wrote about grief. I found a copy recently when I was...
Collaboration is the New Currency
You’ve probably heard me say, "Collaboration is the new currency." It’s how associations go further, faster. It’s how they extend their reach and influence. And it’s how they can gain momentum for initiatives that would take longer as a solo effort. Recently, diverse...
Guest Blog: Fiduciary Duties Are Not Hats
by Dave Bergeson Ph.D., CAE One of the time-honored traditions in working with association Boards is that at some time, someone will say something like this: “Now, remember, today at this meeting I expect everyone will wear their [Association Acronym] hats.” More...
Shh … Quiet as a Planning Strategy
Who challenges your thinking? Recently, I participated in a rustic cabin retreat with two other speakers. We were there to plan, support and challenge each other. Though the work we do is different, we each had critical business strategy issues to address and...
Guest Blog: Empathy-Based Personas: Shifting Your View from Inside-out to Outside-in
by Esteban González and Hilary Marsh Correctly done, the process of creating personas is a transformative way for organizations to shift their perspective on their relationship with their top-priority audiences. Internal stakeholders can identify the audience groups...
Guest Blog: Avoid the One Word that Threatens Your Organization
By David Fry, President, Effective Advancement Strategies If I use a certain word in referencing a friend’s membership organization, I know to expect a negative reaction. However, that word holds the key to survival for most all membership associations these days....
The Difference Between Duty and Desire for Associations
By Amanda Kaiser Are the associations with the golden handcuff structure luckier than at-will associations? Some professionals have to become members to maintain their certification or license. Some professionals have to join to get the conference discount. Some...
Board Composition Matters
When I hear that a board is disengaged or ineffective, I ask how members are recruited. Not surprisingly, the easier it is to get on the board (i.e. the less deliberate recruitment), the higher the possibility for disengagement. A rigorous recruitment process often...