Transform Culture

ONCE A MONTH, I’LL ROUND UP SOME LINKS TO POSTS FROM AROUND THE INTERNET ON OUR TOPIC OF THE MONTH. HERE’S THIS MONTH’S READING LIST FOR YOU ON BOARD CULTURE. How important is culture to your nonprofit board? (New.org) – A nice roundup of points to kick off this list. “Nonprofit boards are groups. All groups […]

Editor’s note: Every month, we interview a different author who has valuable insights that are relevant to professionals within the association industry. From widely varying perspectives and specializations, we hope to provide our dedicated audience with quality reading to continue fostering growth and inspiration! In a world of lightning-fast technological advancements, ever-changing economic, social and […]

Most associations professionals would agree that meeting member needs is at the heart of every decision made. Yet over the last 40 years, most professional associations have been adopting a product-line business model. In addition to membership, we create and try to sell access to products like newsletters/publications, research, online education, meetings and conventions, certifications, […]

An organization is only as good as its people. This is also true for associations, who not only employ staff, but also attract volunteers to promote its work and advocacies. As a chief executive of an association, I embody the aspirations of my staff and volunteers. I label these aspirations through an acronym, “IF U CARE”, […]

As the sun came up on our last day at the Mayan Dude Ranch, my mind was spinning. Circling around something. Tightening in like our trick roper’s lasso the previous night. No doubt, this all had a little to do with the potent smell of cowboy coffee, horse hair, and last night’s bourbon in my nostrils […]

For years, technology has been disrupting the traditional portfolio of association member-value offerings. Long gone are the days when associations were a one-stop shop for all their members’ needs, from information and education to discounted products and services. That’s why associations large and small are spending countless hours (and dollars!) these days searching for the next […]

In my new eBook, Foresight is The Future of Governing: Building Thrivable Boards, Stakeholders and Systems for the 21stCentury, I argue that associations must create a different future of governing by focusing the work of governing on the future. As I explain: Associations need their boards, with the support of their staff partners and other contributors, to focus […]

In an age of hyper-transformation fueled by advances in technology, the association industry’s advocacy efforts must evolve past merely “mobilizing members” to amassing an expanded base of supporters to advance our legislative goals. This evolution requires both a shift in thinking and a recognition that technology provides a platform for value creation. Technology no longer […]

Everyone is talking about how AI and predictive analytics are changing the world. But what does this change actually look like, and how does it work? Predictive analytics goes something like this: Data is collected. This could comprise of all sorts of things: web clicks, demographic information, email campaigns or sales, to name a few. […]

Organizations becoming more intentional about how they create and sustain their culture; realizing now what a fundamental impact in has on employees’ ability to be successful. For the purpose of this article, I define culture as the traits of the organization played out in the behaviors of all employees. In my association career, I’ve approached […]