The Right Facilitation Skills Make Meetings Meaningful
We’re all challenged for time. If you wonder why members aren’t more engaged with your association, that’s one big reason. There aren’t enough hours in the day. When you want volunteers to serve on a committee or support an initiative, it’s critical to give them a rewarding return on the investment. A skilled facilitator can […]
It’s Not About You—Put the MarCom Focus Where It Belongs
Are you using binoculars or a mirror to create communications? It’s more than an understatement to say that we have the tools to focus on our members. The ability to know our customers down to their preferred publications, favorite conference destination, and hot button issues has never been easier. The information at our fingertips is […]
Heroes Shaping the Future of Education Technology
I’d like to introduce you to a group of unsung heroes. While the pandemic was making kids cranky and parents crazy, members of the California IT in Education Association (CITE), were on the frontlines restoring order. They worked tirelessly, often putting their health at risk, to ensure that every child in grades K through 12 […]
Good Culture Makes Good Sense
Smiley or sad—which describes your culture? Some people work on a dream team. Others are ready to be a statistic in the Great Resignation. What makes the difference? If your answer was people, go to the head of the class. When I want to explore interpersonal dynamics in the workplace, I look to .orgSource consultant […]
From a Snack to a Meal—Don’t Leave Rich Content on the Table
When Dan Stevens was a newly-minted entrepreneur, his father wrote him a letter that changed his life. “My dad said that if I was doing things the same way next year as I did this year, I should be very nervous. That warning woke me up. “Even in 1986, my dad was aware that to […]
Hitch Your Wagon to a Star—Find the Right Partner for Success
A comment Adele Cehrs, CEO and Founder of When + How agency, made stayed with me. Adele, who thrives on a healthy dose of risk, said this, “Chutzpah is what drives me and other entrepreneurs to keep reinventing ourselves. If you could bottle that it would be a wise idea for association CEOs to take […]
Smart Sourcing Puts the World of IT Talent Within Reach
If you recently discovered that your IT bench is missing some important players, you are not alone. As increasing numbers of organizations move toward digital transformation or to strengthen data security, there is a shortage of talent to take them where they need to go. Outsourcing, once a stopgap solution, has become smart sourcing, and […]
In the Midst of Uncertainty, Expect These Trends to Rise
Dust off the crystal ball, slosh the tea leaves, and toss the I Ching. It’s that time of year when the pundits make predictions about what’s in store for the next 12 months. Based on our last two turns around the sun, these more intuitive schemes might be as reliable as a carefully considered hypothesis. […]
Lessons Learned from a Black Swan—Solutions Day Presenters Explore Pandemic Insights
Celebration isn’t a word I would typically use to describe a conference, but there was a festive feeling at .orgCommunity’s Solutions Day. Gathering with colleagues again was inspirational. Even online, the participants could sense the excitement. Presenter, Dean West, called the pandemic a black swan. The term comes from finance and is used to describe […]
Go Beyond the Challenge!
When I have a tough problem, my go-to for advice is often one of our corporate partners. For years, association leaders viewed their industry counterparts as more like distant cousins than family. Today we are beginning to understand that the companies we look to for sponsorship or service have another significant offering—They are an invaluable […]
Good Governance Makes Data the Asset It Should Be
Is a hacker haunting your future? Or is your data dilemma more like a recurring headache? Data shouldn’t be a challenge. It’s an asset that should work for you. Two-point-five quintillion bytes of data are generated online daily, according to SaaS Scout Research Group. Data is the meta product of every sale. With each transaction, […]
The Mechanics of Innovation
Mike Moss isn’t a mechanic, but he and his team spent the last year tinkering in a garage. They weren’t taking engines apart and rebuilding them. But the work they did paid off big time. Moss is president of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). What he refers to as “tinkering in the […]
Taking It Down to the Studs—Simplicity Streamlines AAHA’s Road to Excellence
“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry What do Spotify, Robinhood, and HelloFresh have in common? Here’s a clue. The word “easy” has pride of place throughout all their promotional materials. These companies save […]
When the Team Travels to the Future and the Board Lags Behind—How Do You Develop Leaders for the Digital Era?
What happens when your team drives the DeLorean Back to the Future and the board isn’t along for the ride? The office might boast the latest technology with a staff that is ready and able to grow and change. But if the board is stifled by narrow perspectives and retro thinking, do those other pluses […]
A Publishing Strategy Makes Content Magic
What magic will– Define your association as the go-to source for education and career development? Engage members to click, like, share, download, purchase, and participate? Generate revenue, increase recognition, and build reputation? It’s a tall order, but no wands or capes are involved. A publishing strategy that unifies mission and messaging to deliver the […]