How to assess your association’s culture
If your association has seen high employee turnover, declining membership numbers and overall poor productivity, it might be time to step back and take a hard look at your organization’s culture. But before you can do that, you need to take a closer look at how you respond to negative constructive feedback. Are you able […]
How taking small risks can drive innovation within your association
In 1924, six cardiologists gathered to form the American Heart Association. Since then, the organization has grown into a force to be reckoned with, on an ambitious mission to eliminate cardiovascular diseases. Associations like the American Heart Associations have built-in strengths in the form of history and tradition. But left unchecked, these strengths can stifle […]
Is your membership offering enough value?
It’s easy for membership organizations to get lost in the daily details of running a business. But from time to time, it’s important to step back and ask basic questions about what value your membership actually delivers. If you’re struggling to attract new members — especially younger ones— it might be because your offerings are […]
Your association needs a well-defined core ideology to grow. Here’s how to get there
An organization’s core ideology is like its constitution. It serves as a foundation that guides the organization toward future growth and helps maintain a consistent culture that upholds its mission. Revisiting your association’s core ideology can help provide direction during company transitions, changes of leadership, a cultural transformation or uncertain times. Here are questions to […]
Why associations need to understand their member voice
As an association, your job is to do three things for your members: serve them, offer connections and make them better at what they do. To do that, you must have a keen understanding of what they need, what they want and what they want to work on. An association that has tapped into their […]
5 signs your association’s strategy needs a refresh
How would you describe your association? Most people would like to belong to a dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking organization that sets a high bar among its peers. Yet many associations lose their way, becoming stagnant, uninspiring and distracted with complicated internal barriers. If you’ve got the sinking feeling that your association fits in the latter […]
How a successful association sets goals
Every association needs a road map of goals to get closer to its purpose or mission. But a successful association sets these goals by being crystal clear about expectations and creating ways to monitor progress. You may have heard of the SMART goals. The acronym stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. It’s an […]
Why a members-only model might be holding your association back
Picture this: It’s Friday night, and you’re walking home through a city. Your commute takes you past a high brick wall with ivy spilling over the top. You can’t see beyond the wall, but you can hear the sounds of a dinner party taking place in the garden beyond. There’s laughter, glasses clinking, and the […]
Why engagement should be your association’s primary goal
Associations were once at the heart of many professionals’ social lives. Take London’s Royal Society, for instance. Founded in 1660, the Royal Society published many of the world’s most crucial scientific papers in its signature peer-reviewed journal. From Isaac Newton to James Cook, the Royal Society’s members were responsible for paradigm-shifting discoveries. Today, however, people […]
4 signs you need to rethink your organization’s culture
The pay and benefits are stellar. You host team-building events. Most of your team members have stayed on board for a while. Overall, your organization seems like a great place to work. But how do you really know if your organizational culture is a “good” one? Here are signs you need to rethink your organization’s […]