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FEBRUARY 19, 2024

I’m writing this post on Valentine’s Day. In honor of this warm and fuzzy holiday, I want to encourage you to put Xs and Os in a place where we typically find ones and zeros. The IT Department is the home of logic, analytics, data, and all things factual. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of objectivity. I’ve been arguing for weeding politics and preference out of decision-making for my entire career.

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FEBRUARY 12, 2024

Is your marketing team hanging out at the North Pole while the membership group chills in Antarctica? If these two drivers of engagement are a world apart, it will be challenging to deliver the seamless experience customers expect from their favorite brands. There was a time when associations didn’t think of their members as customers. We saw their loyalty as beyond commercial transactions.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Every great team needs a playbook—a blueprint that outlines the rules you live by and your strategies for peak performance. At.orgSource we call that collection of wisdom our Association 4.0 framework. It is the product of ongoing research to prepare our clients for success in digital markets. Many of the characteristics we identified are the same skills that entrepreneurs use to grow start-up ventures.

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JANUARY 30, 2024

Remote work was the pandemic’s big gift to employees. While no one enjoyed isolation, almost everyone was thrilled to shorten their commute, spend more time in sweats, and have their favorite tunes and snacks close at hand. But like the kid who gets a puppy for Christmas, and on December 26 realizes that whether the next 365 days bring snow, rain, or sweltering temperatures, that dog will still need a 6 a.m. walk, remote work came with some not-so-fun trade-offs.

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JANUARY 22, 2024

Remember Counsellor Deanna Troi from Star Trek the Next Generation? In case the Next Generation was before your generation, Troi was the crew member Captain Picard consulted when he needed to understand an alien entity or settle a thorny dispute. Troi was an empath, with the ability to experience the emotions of others as if they were her own. That skill was invaluable to the space travelers.

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JANUARY 14, 2024

If I asked you to describe the work styles of the colleagues on your team, could you tell me how each one prefers to solve problems? Do you know where greater diversity in thought and attitude is needed and what type of people would complement the current mix of personalities? We tend to focus more on what employees do than on how or why they do it.

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JANUARY 8, 2024

Once upon a time, the title of the lead technology wizard didn’t necessarily begin with a C. The IT department didn’t always have a spot at the leadership table. They were regarded a little like sorcerers hanging out in the shadows creating marvels with tools that weren’t well understood by the rest of the office. If there were holdouts on giving IT a pivotal place in the organization, the pandemic shifted that perspective.

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JANUARY 2, 2024

You thought your team would be excited, or at least pleased. Automation, analytics, and all the other digital timesavers should be making their lives easier, right? The truth is no one seems happy. Some employees have invented tortuous workarounds to keep using their new toys to continue working in the same old way. What went wrong? Why did your digital transformation fail?

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DECEMBER 26, 2023

During 2023, I’ve written extensively about all things tech, from digital transformation to MarCom strategies, and more recently AI. No matter what topic I choose, one idea persists. These electronic miracles are pointless unless they are grounded in strong values, positive emotions, and productive behavior. Human drivers center digital initiatives where they need to be—on people.

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DECEMBER 18, 2023

Are you guilty of cognitive bias? The answer is yes, probably on a daily basis. It’s a fancy way of describing how humans typically make decisions. Researchers have identified over 180 types of cognitive bias. You’ll recognize these examples. You heard dark chocolate was a healthy option and ate the second slice of cake. Confirmation bias is the tendency to place the greatest value on information that supports your pre-existing beliefs.

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DECEMBER 11, 2023

Every member experience with your brand is a plus or a minus. There is no neutral. If the interaction doesn’t register as positive, you’ve earned a negative due to a missed opportunity. No matter how much marketing techniques evolve, that equation doesn’t change. As you investigate strategies to incorporate AI and other new technology into customer experience, it’s important to keep delight at the center of that relationship.

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DECEMBER 4, 2023

Scoring a big strategic win is exciting. Although there may be many others involved, the person in charge becomes the face of success. That’s one of the perks of leadership. Helping others to rise can be even more rewarding. Encouraging a colleague to shoot for that sought-after certification, offering advice on an important project, or simply inspiring the confidence to see future potential, are the less visible activities that make leadership meaningful.

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NOVEMBER 28, 2023

AI has that magic quality that tempts us to imagine powers even greater than its already impressive abilities. Like the whale that becomes Moby Dick or an ape that prompts sightings of the Yeti. The leap from reality to make-believe is easy. And the difference between truth and speculation can be difficult to see. I was going to call this post “AI fact or fiction.

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NOVEMBER 7, 2023

COVID made us lab rats in a variety of unusual experiments. Remote work was one of those unsettling tests. it was also an experience that transformed the employment landscape. When Kevin Ordonez, my business partner, and I wrote our Association 4.0 books , a home office was still a glimmer in every busy parent’s eyes. Despite the novelty, we were interviewing some of the most forward-thinking leaders in our community.

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OCTOBER 31, 2023

Get the Right Answers, Discover Unique Perspectives, Deliver Exciting Outcomes We’re excited to launch Solutions Day 2023. The November 2 event is designed to give a fresh take on the future! Solutions Day isn’t just a catchy title. We’ll send our audience back to work with new insights and answers to challenging questions like these: How can our organization prepare to manage disruptive events like the pandemic?

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OCTOBER 24, 2023

What’s the first lesson of Leadership 101? Begin with yourself. Be the change. Walk the talk—right? It sounds simple. But it’s the assignment that’s easiest to fail. Because you might not know yourself as well as you think. And, without self-awareness, it’s impossible to be a role model for others. Does self-awareness mean you realize you’re a number cruncher first and a communicator second?

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OCTOBER 17, 2023

Even with a friendly name like “feedback, check-in, or coaching,” a performance evaluation can be uncomfortable, or possibly downright scary. It’s not surprising if volunteers are reluctant to scrutinize themselves in the mirror. That’s probably why more organizations don’t have a process for evaluating the board of directors, or if they do, that assessment is not continuous.

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OCTOBER 9, 2023

The pandemic was a wormhole. It hurtled us into the future with no time to prepare for that demanding new reality. I am still evaluating the lessons learned. One message that rings loud and clear is the importance of connections. Isolation taught us the value of the relationships and the technology that sustained our communities. I’ve told these stories before, but I’m referring to them again because they highlight advice that can help associations find stability when chaos threatens.

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OCTOBER 1, 2023

Customize is the marketing mantra of the hour. I urge my clients to study data to understand how to deliver the individualized service their members want. And, data is important, but there’s a simpler path to engagement that sometimes gets neglected. What could be more personal than a good old-fashioned conversation? Our expanding digital options are increasingly paired with the desire for connection.

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

You’ve probably had a conversation with the bot twins, ChatGPT and Bard. Actually, they are triplets because Microsoft has a bot named Bing, who receives less attention. (Check Bing out. I like the fact that the source documents are always provided.) Maybe you’ve already experimented using generative AI to create content such as outlines, agendas, or even articles.

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2023

Even when you love your job, without the right support, it’s easy to experience symptoms of leadership fatigue like these. The thrill might not be gone. But genuine excitement is harder to find. Being in the first chair feels like living in a bubble. You could use some fresh advice. You wish that your morning coffee came with a side of creativity. Save the Date Register for.orgCommunity’s Solutions Day.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

Where does your association fall on the scale from nerd to influencer? Could your brand use a Big Gulp of buzz? We all want more of the excitement that attracts followers and gets accomplishments noticed. Associations are defined by their members. And the people who have the biggest impact on that identity are the board of directors. If you’re looking to increase your organization’s vitality and relevance, begin there.

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SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Is digital transformation dead? Well, for the majority of organizations, the transformation is over. They may not all have become butterflies, but most have acquired wings of some kind. Today, we are looking at evolution. At this point, any group missing the digital gene is probably extinct. The focus has gone beyond whether or not you will have digital platforms.

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AUGUST 28, 2023

Until recently I knew zip about dog grooming, restoring vintage clothing, or Chinese cooking. While I might take a stab at making Shaking Beef, I’m still not going to style a Labradoodle or remove the stains from 50-year-old lace. But I have learned a few things about each of those topics. Why dive into subjects that are off my beaten path of discovery?

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AUGUST 21, 2023

Congrats! You’re the CEO. Whether you’ve been in the big chair for years, or just reached your dream destination, don’t get comfortable. “Stuff” is coming your way. I don’t know exactly what your “Stuff” will be, but I promise surprises are part of the package. No leader expects an easy ride. The challenge is part of the fun, right? But I doubt that when you began your journey up the ladder, you imagined that the top would be this precarious.

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AUGUST 14, 2023

“Anything you can do I can do better. I can do anything better than you!” So, who does AI best, ChatGPT or Bard? In case you’ve been living in a yurt in Mongolia, ChatGPT by Open AI launched in November 2022, is the Einstein of chatbots. That light-hearted description probably isn’t worthy of the significance of this advanced language technology’s entrance into the public market.

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AUGUST 7, 2023

What makes for a memorable social event? A case of lite beer, a bag of Bugles, and a bunch of people who don’t know each other won’t be anyone’s Instagram moment. Careful planning is the secret to providing a terrific experience. Organizations that treat culture like an impromptu party will see their “guests” leave early. Culture revolves around personalities and a positive environment depends on understanding the needs of individual players and their interaction as a team.

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JULY 29, 2023

Martha Stewart took her company public in 1999 and became America’s first self-made female billionaire. Then, in December 2021, she acted on an illegal stock tip and was sentenced to five months in prison. You probably won’t become a billionaire and I don’t see any of my readers going to jail, but there is one fact about your future that I can guarantee.

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JULY 25, 2023

Oh, those pesky keywords. For communicators who would rather write sentences than algorithms, finding the phrases that will viralize your posts seems like a New York Times word game gone wrong. Good news! You don’t have to wake up at four a.m. weighing the merits of “member satisfaction” versus “satisfying member customers.” AI, your new marketing assistant, is happy to help.

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JULY 17, 2023

Ode to Association Marketing Professionals By ChatGPT In marketing’s realm, an executive ponders, seeking AI’s power, new pathways to wander. With data-driven insights, campaigns take flight, Association marketing soars to new heights. AI analyzes trends, revealing new ways, unveiling patterns, unlocking marketing’s maze. Personalization thrives, engagement’s secured, executives empowered, strategies assured.

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JULY 10, 2023

The association industry has a reputation for clinging to traditions as stubbornly as Linus hugs his trademark blanket. As the home of organizations that draw on decades of history, it’s not surprising that we love the security of time-honored strategies. But, our community doesn’t get the credit it deserves for invention. If you need proof that this profession boasts its share of innovators, read a few chapters of our Association 4.0 books.

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JULY 3, 2023

Giving your association’s stories their 15 minutes of fame has never been easier. Video has an immediacy and impact that consistently outpaces other mediums. I’m glad to see so many organizations producing compelling content. Some professionals still think of video as a one-off initiative. In fact, it has the potential to be the star of your communication campaigns and the basis for multiple other varieties of messaging.

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JUNE 25, 2023

Remember Management by Walking Around? A spontaneous cruise of the office was an effective strategy for evaluating a variety of business indicators. You could assess how people were communicating, determine where the vibe registered on the stress meter, and take the opportunity to connect personally with employees. Now that remote work makes a casual stroll through the cubicles challenging, I suggest an intentional approach.

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JUNE 19, 2023

One of social media’s powerful lessons is the impact of influencers on brand awareness. Whether it’s a van-lifer selling energy drinks or a dog groomer styling a cast of fluffy fur babies, real people using products in everyday life moves merch. So, who exactly is an influencer? Is it anyone whose persuasive story makes you click on the knife set you didn’t actually want?

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JUNE 12, 2023

“Set and forget” is a busy professional’s best friend. Automations like scheduled social promotions, email campaigns, and critical calendar reminders are digital conveniences that free space for more important assignments. If only we could take that casual approach to technology in general. Unfortunately, the head-spinning pace of innovations means that state-of-the-art becomes obsolete in a New York minute.

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JUNE 5, 2023

Each year, 12 million girls are married before they turn 18. In the United States, only approximately four states have a law prohibiting marriage under the age of 18. And, there are two states where a couple, accompanied by parents, can marry as early as 12 years old. I learned these disturbing, but important, statistics from Allison K. Summers, CAE, a guest on the Association 4.0 podcast.

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MAY 29, 2023

The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Trye Nichols prompted vocal support for social justice throughout the business community. Organizations of all stripes were quick to issue statements confirming their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2020, the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) reported that following George Floyd’s death, 85% of organizations published a statement on racial justice or diversity and 63% took action to address those concerns.

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