Let’s not forget why we’re in the association business
Perhaps it’s been some of the political talk of banning refugees and immigrants based on religion or perhaps it’s evidence that some of the low-end politics of my association life have finally gotten to me, but during a recent day off, I somehow got it into my head to do something that I had meant […]
Why you should customize your staff’s development
We’ve all heard the cliches, like “our people are our greatest asset,” but when push comes to shove, with budgets for professional development internally, I’m not sure that’s always the case. It’s expensive to develop your people. It takes them away from the jobs they need to do, and there are frequently fees involved for […]
3 lessons from John Spence
We had the privilege of conducting a webinar with John Spence, the author of “Awesomely Simple.” A business consultant and speaker, he has worked with all sorts of organizations, including Fortune 100 companies. If you weren’t able to listen in, here are three takeaways we think are especially relevant. 1. Millennials are upping our expectations […]
Board members gone rogue: An interview with Sandra Giarde
I talked with Sandra Giarde, executive director of the California Landscape Contractors Association, to talk about a hot topic: Rogue board member. Sandra has presented at several association conferences about how to deal with a “turbo bully” on the board and this seems to be a topic that resonates with everyone. What in a board culture […]
Do boards destroy more value than they create?
We’ve been talking about the connection between association boards and culture, and most posts have been organized around concrete tips: The first set the stage on defining and maintaining a board culture, and then we got right into tips on orienting your board. Maddie interviewed AGU CEO Chris McEntee on some cool stuff she’s done with her […]
3 conflict resolution tools for your board
In case you didn’t know, I got my Master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution 20-odd years ago from George Mason University. I studied conflict from all angles with some of the leaders in the field, and I can tell you, from the theory side, there is absolute clarity that: Conflict is a good thing. […]
The 5 board members from Hell
After 35 years working as the staff guy in three different non-profits, serving on a variety of community boards and listening to stories from some of my colleagues in other organizations, I have to say 98 percent of people I have both worked with and for on non-profit boards are terrific people. They care, they do their […]
Interview: Chris McEntee
Chris McEntee, CEO of the American Geophysical Union, has done a lot of work around transformational leadership. In particular, she reshaped AGU’s board of directors, taking particular care, as you’ll see below, to honing and defining culture at the board level. What kind of board culture have you created there? Collaborative, respectful, strategic, inquisitive, deliberative, constructive […]
3 reasons your volunteer ladder may be flawed
There is, of course, logic to this assumption. By requiring prior service, you provide an opportunity for the volunteer to learn how the system works and what it takes to be an effective board member. You also get a chance to evaluate their effectiveness as a board member; it’s a “minor league” of sorts. That […]
5 signs it’s time to rethink your brand
Whether it’s Uber’s much maligned logo redesign, or Google’s removal of serifs from their logo, a change in your brand also means a change in your customer’s perception of you, for better or for worse. Despite its associated risks, your brand may very well need a revamp. Here are five signs this is the case: 1. DECLINE […]