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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Digital Empathy Brings Data to Life
Remember Counsellor Deanna Troi from Star Trek the Next Generation? In case the Next Generation was before your generation, Troi was the crew member Captain Picard consulted when he needed to understand an alien entity or settle a thorny dispute. Troi was an empath, with the ability to experience the emotions of others as […]
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 […]
Are AI and EI an Odd Couple? Nope, Pairing Bytes With Behavior Is a Perfect Match
During 2023, I’ve written extensively about all things tech, from digital transformation to MarCom strategies, and more recently AI. No matter what topic I choose, one idea persists. These electronic miracles are pointless unless they are grounded in strong values, positive emotions, and productive behavior. Human drivers center digital initiatives where they need to be—on […]