Like many associations, 2020 was a time to pivot and polish your organizational skills to best respond to the changing business environment. And now, a year later, breaking away from operational activities requires a major mind shift. We are creatures of habit, and we adapt better than we think we do. The new systems and […]
Teach Leaders How to Carry and Wave Your Flag
For most leaders, presenting is a skill. Like anything else, it takes training to learn it. Just like the nuances of being an effective advocate for your industry. Or like the differences between being a single contributor versus a manager of people. In fact, – It’s rare that three key elected officers or board […]
Target a few important member groups, and you’ll end up reaching more of them
Don’t start planning, or talking, or writing until you know who you want to influence. It’s the first universal rule of marketing. Before you try to ‘sell’ an event, a class, a member benefit, or your latest political win, you’ll reach a wide audience when you answer: What’s in It for them? THEM, (one or […]
The Words that Give Members a Reason to Rely on You
2020 was the year to turn VIRUS into VALUE. Associations across the country took the time to re-think and question why they exist. What should members rely on from the association during a crisis and every day? Let’s face it. Some members feel obligated to belong. Many associations were determined to change the perception […]
Diagnose with Purpose: 5 Common Communications Issues Across Associations
The fact: Most members don’t pay attention, but you can win this battle. Through communications audits, we uncover five common problems that indicate a gap between what you mean to say, and how they consume it. Those barriers include: 1. More focus on the association rather than your member (we-we-we). 2. Missing key messages so […]
Highlights of Association Communications During a Challenging 2020
In April 2020, a respected colleague said to me: “If we want a better future for our members, we can’t just react to our circumstances. We can’t just survive. I’m pushing all of us to thrive!” Amidst the disruption, devastation and distractions of 2020, the questions were consistent. Associations wanted to find the best approaches […]
