Association strategist Meredith Low and engagement expert Amanda Kaiser teamed up for three fireside chats about the future of associations. Trailer Learn more about the Associations of the Future series in this 80-second video. Session #1 Amanda asks Meredith questions about ways that association professionals may want to start thinking about the future. This conversation …
Associations of the Future
November 30, 2020
Your old normal isn’t your future
November 25, 2020
I’ve said it. You’ve said it. Sometimes wistfully, sometimes with a vague hand-wave type of gesture: “When things get back to normal…” And sure, that looks like it’s going to apply for a lot of things. Sort of. My neighbourhood already has a ton of heartbreaking “out of business” signs up. But some restaurants will …
Five things I bet you’ve learned this year
September 29, 2020
In early April or so, I remember seeing someone on twitter suggest keeping a pandemic journal. If I’d taken that good advice, I bet I’d have a fascinating record. What I thought was possible, important, interesting, worrying, likely… and also what I didn’t think about at all (yet). I’m sure it would be illuminating to …
Scenario planning, and other flotation devices
September 8, 2020
Like many, you may have postponed strategic discussions – at least until the end of the summer, possibly the end of the pandemic? Maybe? But I think most are coming to the realization that you can’t do that indefinitely. COVID-19 is going to be around for a while, you have decisions about staffing and events …
Board governance – staying out of trouble
August 21, 2020
Board governance is a funny thing – at once very complex, and pretty straightforward. The ongoing situation with the WE Charity, with the flurry of stories emerging about its many oddities, certainly sounds complex. And I worry that stories like these may dissuade people from joining boards or taking on leadership roles such as chair. …
What’s your planning timeframe?
July 27, 2020
If you’re lucky enough to get some time off during the hazy days of summer, ideally near a body of water, one of the great joys is not planning beyond the next paddle in the canoe, or the next ice cream cone. Oddly, one of the characteristics of a crisis – the opposite of the …
Strategic opportunities for associations – right now
June 11, 2020
There is increased risk for most organizations right now – there always is in a recession alone, let alone everything else that’s going on. Yet, even now, there are strategic opportunities for associations which should not be overlooked. A chance to connect with everyone Activities have moved to the virtual realm, and seem likely to …
You’ve (probably) got this
May 7, 2020
There’s a real-time reckoning of how governments have performed against the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even leaders who have gotten a temporary rally-around-the-leader approval boost are getting scrutinized (and rightly so). This should escalate with the tense and unimaginably complex decisions they have ahead of them – about opening up, about tamping down outbreaks, …
Decision-making, but make it virtual
April 23, 2020
We prefer to have serious decision-making discussions in person. We like to see each other think; challenging conversations are easier when we can read body language, or even hear intakes of breath. We want to look into other people’s eyes when we are making a commitment together. There’s a reason the word “conspiracy” has at …
Beyond a business continuity plan
April 5, 2020
The original version of this post had a technical issue; apologies if you’ve had to re-search for the link. I suspect many of you are seeing the limitations of a business continuity plan by now, whether you had one in place or not. If you look at their structure, they’re designed for a short, sharp shock. And …