Delivering Excellence in the Age of AI or Association 4.0
Part One Excellence is never a given. Being identified as the best in anything from soccer to sales requires commitment and hard work. But for decades, associations easily held pride of place in their industries. Members saw us as a professional home, their most trusted source of advocacy and information. Yes, we had to win […]
Navigating the Future: How AGU Leverages Technology to Advance Earth and Space Sciences
The American Geophysical Union is an organization that revolves around science and technology. So, it was fascinating to interview Thad Lurie as a guest on my Association 4.0 Podcast. Thad is AGU’s Senior Vice President of Digital and Technology. He brings nearly 25 years of experience in IT and operations within the association industry to […]
Make Space—Lighten the Load for Your Heavy Lifters
Stuff is falling off your plate. You’re surrounded by a scary pile of responsibilities. You could delegate. But you don’t have the time to bring another staffer up to speed. Or you might hire new talent, but an opportunity to interview and onboard seems as elusive as a vacation day. Unfortunately, this Catch 22 is […]
A Technology Assessment Connects Intention and Ability
Do you have a friend whose house looks like it belongs to neat freak Felix Unger, but the closets and drawers are clearly owned by lovable slob Oscar Madison? This Odd Couple disconnect happens to even savvy digital organizations. My writing about digital leadership often focuses on values and attitudes. But attention to the infrastructure’s nuts and […]
Still Confused About AI, Learn the Facts A-Bot Us!
How many articles about AI have you read? Too many? Despite all the information, are you still a little confused about where this adventure is going? Let me begin with a disclaimer. Generative AI is not a gift that lends itself to neat packaging. The beauty of this technology is its limitless potential. Exploring those […]
Drones, Robots, and Farmers—Prepare Your Association to Meet Fast-Moving Technology Trends
To make a point about technology and its impact on the future of work, Hugh Lee, Co-Founder of Fusion Productions, told me this story: “Several years ago, we invited some young presenters who were developing cutting edge farming technology to digitalNow. They were using drones to fly over fields and analyze the irrigation and fertilizer required by […]
Tired of Operational Surprises? Ask These Strategic Questions
Surprise parties can be fun. If the balloon tower featuring your age got cancelled—even better. Surprises in business aren’t so welcome. When the membership director springs a dashboard on you with every indicator trending south, it’s not a good day. Distraction is an invitation for the unexpected. If you’re playing Whack a Mole with details, […]
Disruption Sunny Side Up
Disruption gets a bad rap. We are quick to see it as a faceless villain itching to lay waste to our future prospects. But shattering the status quo is positive and necessary. We call that type of change innovation. It happens when smart people with guts and irrepressible creative energy are left to their own […]
To Get Close to Members, Follow MarTech Trends
Whether I’m writing about marketing, strategy, or technology, one idea always surfaces. Understanding members at a granular level has never been more important. We all know this, right? Yet, it seems that even big corporations are struggling to deliver the level of personalization that customers expect. Harvard Business Review Analytic Services recently released a report […]
Commit to Your Team’s Success—They’ll Return the Favor
When you are the leader, you drive the team dynamics. Others take their cues from your behavior. This is an unavoidable consequence of being the boss. We feel at ease with people who are like us. So, it’s easy to promote this self-centered perspective without realizing it. But CEOs who head exceptional teams reject an […]
Beyond Bronze, Silver, and Gold—Grow Success With Purpose
A colleague recently referred to the time before the pandemic as “innocent.” That description struck a chord with me. She was talking about how unprepared we were for the dramatic changes we experienced. Our lost innocence isn’t a bad thing. We now understand that on this ship nothing is nailed down and the sea is […]
Are Marketing and Membership at Opposite Poles? Take the Journey to Collaboration
Is your marketing team hanging out at the North Pole while the membership group chills in Antarctica? If these two drivers of engagement are a world apart, it will be challenging to deliver the seamless experience customers expect from their favorite brands. There was a time when associations didn’t think of their members as customers. […]
Build a Successful Team, Know Where Your People Thrive
If I asked you to describe the work styles of the colleagues on your team, could you tell me how each one prefers to solve problems? Do you know where greater diversity in thought and attitude is needed and what type of people would complement the current mix of personalities? We tend to focus […]
Lead From the Human Side of Technology
Once upon a time, the title of the lead technology wizard didn’t necessarily begin with a C. The IT department didn’t always have a spot at the leadership table. They were regarded a little like sorcerers hanging out in the shadows creating marvels with tools that weren’t well understood by the rest of the […]
EI Helps Teams Use Technology to Fly
You thought your team would be excited, or at least pleased. Automation, analytics, and all the other digital timesavers should be making their lives easier, right? The truth is no one seems happy. Some employees have invented tortuous workarounds to keep using their new toys to continue working in the same old way. What went […]