Giveaways and Gimmicks Are Short-Lived Solutions—Strong Membership Initiatives Begin With the Basics
From VIP clubs to fancy swag and tiered pricing, the tactics to win members’ hearts are only limited by imagination. When the economy, technology, or social disruption, like the pandemic, threatens to come between us and our reason for being, a little panic is understandable. But before you load on the giveaways and short-lived solutions, […]
Hiring Without a Handshake—Get Virtual Interviewing Right
Every new hire is either an opportunity for success or a challenge to it. No recruit is neutral. If there are people on your team who don’t rock the boat, but never move it forward, that’s a drain on precious resources. Interviewing in a virtual environment adds a dimension to an already high stakes process. […]
Remote Work Is a Superpower—Learn How to Use It
I hate to see COVID-19 give remote work a bad rap. The ability to do business from anywhere gives you the superpower to slay disruption in its tracks. But only when you learn the rules. Over the last few months, more than a few people feel as though work sabotaged their lives. The office abruptly […]
Flexible, Hybrid, On-Demand—The Future of Work Holds Opportunity for Leaders Who Accept the Challenge
We’ve all had the feeling—You click to leave the Zoom meeting and your brain needs a refresh along with the computer screen. Here’s some not so surprising news. Zoom fatigue is real. A study from Microsoft’s Human Factor’s Lab demonstrates that brainwave patterns associated with stress and overwork are higher during remote than in-person collaboration. […]
Resolve to Welcome Change
The new year has arrived. We popped the champagne and wished 2020 goodbye and good riddance. There is a vaccine, so an end to our year of living separately is somewhere just over the horizon. On the other hand, the Low Touch Economy is here to stay. I’m struck by 2020 as a defining moment. […]
Invite Risk To the Party and Still Play It Safe
As an entrepreneur who works in the association community, I’m always aware of the differences in these two worlds and the circumstances that influence their distinct perspectives. Associations are cautious diplomats. They try so hard to avoid a misstep that sometimes they don’t see the edge and fall off the cliff despite themselves. On the […]
For a Wow Customer Experience, Begin With a Wow Culture
I was browsing the Zappos website today. Yes, it’s that time of year, but I wasn’t shopping. My mind was on culture. Culture is a critical component of digital transformation, and issues in this area frequently surface during my consulting engagements. Research from McKinsey found that culture was the most significant self-reported barrier to digital […]
Did You Haul Analog Baggage Into the Digital Marketplace?
Did your organization leap or crawl into the virtual realm? The pandemic’s challenging circumstances demanded a quick transition that left many associations carrying unnecessary baggage to the other side. Trying to manage an analog culture in the digital marketplace requires heavy lifting. The new year brings an opportunity to lighten that load. You may have […]
Are You Listening?
It’s one thing when you choose to do your job at the kitchen table; It’s another to be stuck there without an alternative. By choice, the kitchen seems cozy. When it’s the only space available—not so much. I make that distinction because remote work shouldn’t take all the fall for the perfectly understandable cultural stress […]
Make Data Your Competitive Advantage
Can you guess the answer to this question? Virginia (Ginni) Rometty, Executive Chairman of IBM, recommended making these critical marketing shifts within the next 18 months or risk being left in the dust: Move the focus from market segmentation to the individual customer. “Create systems of engagement” that go beyond reaching out to tracking brand […]
The Digital Marketplace is a Learning Machine—Keep Pace With 8 Simple Steps Toward Business Transformation
This message appeared on my phone the other day: Hi Kristina: I’ve been waiting for you. I’m Rose Resident Mischief-Maker at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. As your virtual hook-up, just text me for housekeeping requests, restaurant reservations, room service orders, guest services, and more. Just reply Rose and I’ll show you everything I can […]
Happy Endings Brighten a Challenging Season
Most of us won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving as usual. Gatherings will be a slimmer version of the traditional mega feast. There’s no need to hunt down the extra table leaf and chairs. The good news is maybe Uncle Harry, who you love to hate, won’t be there. The bad news is that you’ll probably miss […]
Deliver Leadership, Leverage, and Leads for Virtual Sponsors
Networking is one of my favorite conference activities. Meeting someone who expands my horizons or helping a colleague make a critical connection, is satisfying in a way that’s hard to beat. It’s not as easy to experience that glow in cyberspace. Nowhere is the gulf between an in-person and a virtual encounter more important to […]
My Zoom Background Is My New BFF – Critical Conversations About Work in the Age of COVID-19
The pandemic ended breakroom chats, Friday happy hour, and pizza around the conference table. But there is a bright side. We are learning to be remote together. We can draw on each other’s ups, downs, and sometimes sideways experiences to grow stronger and smarter. .orgCommunity, .orgSource’s networking and educational partner, is hosting a series of“Critical […]
How to Drive Member Engagement on your Association Website
Online member engagement is becoming the number one KPI (key performance indicator) of a successful association website. The truth is, your website is your most powerful marketing tool. Your association spends months planning and creating resources, events, and forums for your members. You work hard to provide them with relevant information, engaging content, and above […]