Productivity

Any association worth its salt should provide their board of directors members with a detailed manual. Specifics are the key to efficiency; outlining them in a manual will reduce the potential for confrontations and misunderstanding. A robust association board book should include: Welcome letter Board roles, responsibilities, and requirements for involvement Conflict of interest policy and questionnaire Outline of the board’s structure and how it relates to the association Information on board insurance coverage Board policies and procedures (e.g. travel […]

Make the most of your association’s board orientation by having a well-thought-out plan in place to prepare attendees for maximum payoff. In Part 2 of our Board Orientation series, we focused on how to structure the orientation for a board of directors. The next step in the process is to plan the board orientation session and prep attendees. Share the following information before the orientation session: Goals (meetings are always more efficient when attendees know what they’re there to do) Agenda (shoot […]

How to convince an Association Board of Directors to invest in Association Management Software (AMS).

We recently hosted a webinar presentation with membership expert, Mary Byers, entitled “Permission to Win When Nothing is Certain.” It’s now available on-demand free of charge! Mary explains how rigorous experimentation and planned leaps allow associations to lead and adapt consistently while still meeting the day-to-day demands of their organization. Learn what should you do when your association is being outpaced by change, your member market has changed significantly (and your association hasn’t), or when your very existence is threatened. Sit back […]

What should you do when your association is being outpaced by change? Or when your member market has changed significantly (and your organization hasn’t)? Or when your association’s very existence is threatened? Join us on Thursday, July 26th, when membership expert and guest presenter, Mary Byers, will lead the webinar: Permission to Win when Nothing is Certain. This program may be applied for 1 credit toward CAE application or renewal. View the webinar to learn about:  How pricing and packaging experiments are […]

You want new board members to hit the ground running, right? The key is to make sure your orientation process is actually producing results. Get the Field Guide to Board Orientation for a step-by-step plan. A successful orientation program generates excitement and motivation. By the end of the orientation process, new (and existing) board member(s) should: Feel comfortable and involved Have a sense of camaraderie with the other members Feel motivated Know the association’s mission, philosophy, foundation, purpose, goals, policies, […]

In the last installment of the Difficult People blog series, we explore the last of the 16 techniques for managing your emotions when defusing uncomfortable situations with co-workers, members, and board members. STAY FLEXIBLE Different people have different triggers and responses to those triggers. Staying adaptable will help you save energy and avoid stress. KNOW WHEN TO ESCALATE As a last resort, approach your manager about the situation. Be prepared to list the techniques you’ve tried in an effort to […]

New employees go through orientation. Why shouldn’t your new board members? Choosing good board members is critical to your association’s success. Make the most of your new resource by downloading your FREE copy of The Field Guide to Board Orientation. In it, you’ll discover foolproof ways to get new board members up to speed quickly and efficiently.   Get useful tips on how to: Structure your orientation Prepare board meeting attendees for maximum payoff Build a robust board book Hold an effective orientation debriefing Set […]

It’s that time of year again to send your members “The Survey.” As you know, some members are loyal survey takers, some like the opportunity to vent or praise, and some will always ignore the invitation. However, there’s a good chance you can increase member participation when you help your members understand why your association is conducting the survey and what you’ll do with the results. To help minimize membership reduction, see how to conduct Member Exit Surveys. Here’s a […]

Stories are always better when they are shared with others, and creating a book club is a great way to for association members to network and foster relationships – either in person or online. Not sure where to start?  These steps will help you get going. Set goals: What do you want to get out of it? And what do you want your members to get out of it?  This is also a great time to decide the tone or […]

THE CHALLENGE When Laurie Lourie came on board as Executive Vice President of the York Builders Association, she brought 22 years of association experience and a keen eye for continuous improvement. She knew that a dues-based organization had to have cost-efficient systems in place in order to provide members with valuable programs and services. Laurie identified costly inefficiencies at the association, including separate systems for managing programs, accounting, and member data. With limited staff, outsourcing technical support would prove to […]

Whether you’re addressing the board of directors, calling members, or emailing colleagues, it’s important to convey your message professionally. You already know the obvious no-nos words – swear words. Here are eight more words and phrases you may not have realized diminish your credibility and dilute your message. “To be honest” or “Honestly” Is the rest of what you’re saying untrue? “Always” or “Never” There is no such thing as absolutes. “Just” or “Kind of” or “Hopefully” It weakens your […]