What 1 association learned from launching its first LMS
In my first few days at LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit aging services providers, I was googling “what is an LMS?” I had been hired in a new role to assist in growing LeadingAge’s “distance” learning offerings. I had worked at smaller aging nonprofits, none of which had a robust online learning platform. I not […]
If I had 20 days to problem-solve
Albert Einstein once said, “If I had 20 days to solve a problem, I would take 19 days to define it.” With this in mind, and realizing that problems are always different, I hope I can offer advice when taking the time to problem-solve. Listen Gather data by listening to those around you, whether there […]
SURGE Growth registration now open
It’s no secret the association industry faces new challenges and market disruption as the world around it is made all the more complex by technological change and globalization. But did you know all of those challenges are actually opportunities? How the association industry reacts today will determine our future, and there’s only one way to tackle […]
4 steps to identifying non-dues revenue opportunities
As someone who works in the digital communications business, I work on many different channels of communication every day. Determining the best ways to effectively communicate with members, drive engagement and grow non-dues revenue is a constant focus for associations. When assisting associations in this process, we often take these four steps: Evaluate your current […]
Ready to grow? 4 books to get you started
If you’ve ever picked up a copy of one of Verne Harnish’s books, you know the Entrepreneur’s Organization founder puts serious stock in habit development. As the author of “Mastering the Rockefeller Habits” and the later update “Scaling Up: Mastering the Rockefeller Habits 2.0,” Harnish knows the value of making a plan and sticking to […]
What can we learn from the Boeing 737 MAX?
It’s impossible to have avoided the corporate crisis that dominated business in 2019: The Boeing 737 MAX. When things go wrong midair, they can really go wrong. There’s not only the safety of everyone on board to consider but the safety of the untold numbers of people below. The stakes are perhaps higher — and […]
Ready for SURGE Growth? Meet the 3 keynote speakers for our digital conference
When we first started to think about what the next SURGE should focus on, we considered associations’ biggest challenges today, how there’s a need to face transitional forces coming from both inside and outside the industry and how these organizations are looking to tap into new generations coming of age and into the market. We […]
If you prove your value, members will invest
When I was a sophomore in college, I was recruited by a little known agency to work full-time. To this day, I give that agency credit for giving me the best sales training I could ever have in my life. My job involved doing thorough research. I learned to really look at so many different, […]
Workplace fulfillment by the numbers
More and more, employees are prioritizing a meaningful, fulfilling workplace. While workers know fulfillment is a personal experience, they also acknowledge senior leadership’s role in setting a culture that nurtures or stifles a sense of purpose. Last week, in the kick-off article to this series, I suggested senior leadership aim for more than just token […]
How to tell if your non-dues revenue programs are worth it
When it comes to non-dues sources of revenue, not all are worth the time, energy and effort. Organization leaders need to understand the total value of the revenue source, which means more than the return on investment; it also means looking at how much mission impact is perceived to be achieved by board members, staff, […]