Soft Skills Support Hard Leadership Challenges

In a digital market moving at the speed of a video game, recruiting the right staff is a make-or-break activity. But what about the other half of the equation? Most association CEOs don’t hand-pick the board. How do we bring novice players up to speed? What can we do to ensure they have the […]
Build a Board for the Digital Future

Are your board meetings caught in a frustrating time loop? The faces change, but the concepts are entrenched. Nobody seems to notice that the same initiatives dressed in different costumes are masquerading as something new. Tradition can be a dynamic legacy. But an inheritance of stale ideas sandbags growth and keeps value at bay. In […]
For Positive Outcomes, Hold a Mirror Up to Board Performance

Even with a friendly name like “feedback, check-in, or coaching,” a performance evaluation can be uncomfortable, or possibly downright scary. It’s not surprising if volunteers are reluctant to scrutinize themselves in the mirror. That’s probably why more organizations don’t have a process for evaluating the board of directors, or if they do, that assessment is […]
Spark Engagement, Inspire Loyalty, Upskill to Association 4.0 Board Leadership

Where does your association fall on the scale from nerd to influencer? Could your brand use a Big Gulp of buzz? We all want more of the excitement that attracts followers and gets accomplishments noticed. Associations are defined by their members. And the people who have the biggest impact on that identity are the board […]
Raise the Board’s Financial IQ
What is your board’s financial IQ? That’s a question every association CEO should be able to answer. While you may not have a Warren Buffett in the group, hopefully, there are some above-average number crunchers. To adequately fulfill the three duties of a nonprofit board member—Care, Loyalty, and Obedience—a solid understanding of the organization’s financial […]
Beyond the Rainbow—Build a Diverse Board of Independent Thinkers

The boardroom is the last place where CEOs want to rock the boat. But good governance shouldn’t be comfortable. If too many heads bob in agreement, you might want to take a closer look at who is seated at the table. Collegiality among leaders is a good thing. It can fast track important projects. On […]