Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Congratulations! Online interviewing didn’t make you skip a beat. You found the talent to complete your dream team. You’re probably feeling pretty lucky. But you might be less than enthusiastic about navigating those first months of learning to work together through the small screen. MORE
“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry What do Spotify, Robinhood, and HelloFresh have in common? Here’s a clue. MORE
We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now. Martin Luther King, Jr. The proof that we are citizens of the world, no matter how fiercely we choose to localize, was one of the pandemic’s profound lessons. Technology has created an interdependent global economy. MORE
Every new hire is either an opportunity for success or a challenge to it. No recruit is neutral. If there are people on your team who don’t rock the boat, but never move it forward, that’s a drain on precious resources. MORE
These comments from McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski to New York Times journalist David Gelles describing how the pandemic would change the company’s business resonated with me on a couple of levels. “We MORE
What magic will– Define your association as the go-to source for education and career development? Engage members to click, like, share, download, purchase, and participate? Generate revenue, increase recognition, and build reputation? It’s a tall order, but no wands or capes are involved. MORE
What happens when your team drives the DeLorean Back to the Future and the board isn’t along for the ride? The office might boast the latest technology with a staff that is ready and able to grow and change. MORE
Artificial intelligence has moved into customer service departments. Whether it’s Alexa, Watson, or Hal, you can’t visit a website without a super-friendly little bot popping up on the right side of your screen. We are accustomed to the convenience of getting questions answered immediately. MORE
Are you an association professional with your eye on the corner office? If you also like roller coasters, bumper cars, and Whack-a-Mole, you have what it takes. Being the CEO has never been easy. MORE
Mike Moss isn’t a mechanic, but he and his team spent the last year tinkering in a garage. They weren’t taking engines apart and rebuilding them. But the work they did paid off big time. Moss is president of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). MORE
Investing in a learning management system is no longer a choice. An LMS is much more than an enhancement to your website. It is essential equipment in a business environment that is challenging organizations to provide smarter, faster, and more engaging solutions for their customers than ever before. MORE
Most of us didn’t have viruses on our minds before 2020. Fortunately, some people make researching, preventing, and helping patients survive diseases like COVID-19 their life’s work. MORE
You wouldn’t go to the bank for a loan without a fine-tuned business plan or approach a fundraising prospect for a major gift before learning everything you could about their interests. MORE
I found a relic of my former life when I was organizing my files. It was a presentation I created back in January 2020. The title was Association 4.0—Creating Creating Community in a Less Social World. I planned to use the deck to launch a new series of in-person Think Tanks. MORE
Podcasts are the perfect learning tool for multitaskers. You can walk the dog, workout, or pick up a Starbucks and be educated and entertained at the same time. That’s why.orgSource,orgCommunity’s partner consultancy, is excited to launch the Association 4.0 series. MORE
What does a technology investment have in common with a woolly mammoth? You guessed it: They are both a big, hairy deal. Whether you’re looking for a small, mid-sized, or major system, a lot is riding on that purchase. The stakes are more about success than money. MORE
How do you grow membership in a harsh climate? Attracting a wider audience and turning those customers into community is a good way to start. We’ve been on notice since well before the pandemic that shifts are occurring in why people join an association and what they want once they sign on. MORE
Greg Larkin, our keynote speaker at.orgCommunity’s July 14 Innovation Summit, was quick to admit that he was feeling a little rusty being in front of an audience for the first time in over a year. “I’m I’m freaking out,” was what he actually said. MORE
When marketing got hitched to technology and changed its name to MarTech, their relationship caught fire. That marriage is making an indelible impact on the way associations operate and their ability to engage with members. MORE
Siloed organizations used to be hard to manage; today, they are a real business liability. Success in the digital marketplace depends on a holistic approach—this is a mantra that I can’t repeat frequently enough. Systems, teams, and departments must all be directed toward common goals. MORE
Anyone who has spent time here in Chicago knows that the weather can turn from sunshine to flurries in the time it takes to stroll a block down the Mag Mile. This fickle about-face seems to be happening everywhere. We spent the last year urging people to stay home. MORE
What’s the single best thing you can do for your career? It doesn’t require special training, it’s never too late to get started, better still, it will return your investment of energy and effort many times over. MORE
Laird Crawford has straddled the virtual and in-person worlds for some time now. He edits the mumbles out of podcasts and makes people look better on video than they do in person. Over the last 25 years, Laird’s company, Ian Ryan Interactive, has been my go-to for audio-visual success. MORE
In the movie Groundhog Day, actor Bill Murray is condemned to live the same day of his life over, and over, and over again. Groundhog Day thinking is the seductive loop that lurks in offices and conference rooms tempting us to reject fresh ideas for recycled solutions. MORE
From VIP clubs to fancy swag and tiered pricing, the tactics to win members’ hearts are only limited by imagination. When the economy, technology, or social disruption, like the pandemic, threatens to come between us and our reason for being, a little panic is understandable. MORE
To say that emergency nurses must be ready for anything is an understatement. This is a profession that routinely prepares for the unexpected. As CEO of the Emergency Nurses Association, Nancy MacRae knows how to be sure-footed in a volatile environment. MORE
Smart CEOs understand that the quickest path to success is the one where the team travels with you. Skill-building across the organization isn’t just good leadership, it’s good for leaders. Professional development is a wise use of resources. Just be sure to make yourself part of the group. MORE
In June, I thought the dust was settling. Now, with the onslaught of virulent Delta, not so much. We are still in the grip of disruption. The change seems to be that people are learning to cope. There is a shift from reactive to more deliberate approaches. MORE
A colleague recently confided in me that although her association is facing serious challenges, the board isn’t interested in learning how to govern more effectively. Her attempts to educate them are always met with resistance. You can guess where this group is headed. MORE
The conference ROI slowly rose like a gator lifting its head from the swamp of negative numbers. But membership dues, product sales, and web analytics are sinking deeper into quicksand. Even facing a dismal scenario like this, the decision to call for outside expertise can be difficult. MORE
Is a hacker haunting your future? Or is your data dilemma more like a recurring headache? Data shouldn’t be a challenge. It’s an asset that should work for you. Two-point-five quintillion bytes of data are generated online daily, according to SaaS Scout Research Group. MORE
Remember the good old days? Once every three years, you gathered the board and staff in a conference room with baked goods, a lot of caffeine, and a facilitator. They produced what was euphemistically called a strategic plan. Often this document had more in common with a laundry list than strategy. MORE
When do you stop having a choice? In May 2019, when the panel discussion below was first published in the.orgSource newsletter, digital transformation probably wasn’t top of mind for most association leaders. MORE
Getting strategic planning right is challenging in the best of times. This season of disruption adds additional complexity and brings significant shifts in perspective that are important to recognize as associations prepare for the years ahead. MORE
The conference ROI slowly rose like a gator lifting its head from the swamp of negative numbers. But membership dues, product sales, and web analytics are sinking deeper into quicksand. Even facing a dismal scenario like this, the decision to call for outside expertise can be difficult. MORE
Ninety percent of success is having the right connections. I love helping my colleagues make those important contacts.orgCommunity’s Solutions in Action webinar features the association industry’s most resourceful experts. MORE
What should we call it—the New Normal, the Next Normal, Another Normal? Please let go of normal. When the DJ stopped playing oldies, Normal left the party. MORE
The best IT systems are the ones you don’t think about. They make child’s play out of data analytics, keep users smiling, and reliably work to boost the bottom line. Does that sound like your technology experience? I didn’t think so. There’s a reason why. MORE
I frequently write the words digital and success in the same sentence. Technology is important. A weak infrastructure at the beginning of 2020 meant it was a very hard year. As much as I value electronic connectivity, culture or the human side of business will always be the imperative. MORE
My fascination with technology began when I realized it would help me become better at something I love—dealing with challenging problems. Originally,orgSource was focused on software and hardware solutions. MORE
The smiles are back! Yesterday the CDC announced that anyone who is fully vaccinated need not wear a mask in most circumstances. But wait. The comments on my Facebook page tell an interesting story. Everyone isn’t jumping on Open Table or heading to the movies. MORE
.orgSource
OCTOBER 15, 2021
Is a hacker haunting your future? Or is your data dilemma more like a recurring headache? Data shouldn’t be a challenge. It’s an asset that should work for you. Two-point-five quintillion bytes of data are generated online daily, according to SaaS Scout Research Group.
.orgSource
OCTOBER 12, 2021
Most of us didn’t have viruses on our minds before 2020. Fortunately, some people make researching, preventing, and helping patients survive diseases like COVID-19 their life’s work.
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.orgSource
JULY 13, 2021
These comments from McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski to New York Times journalist David Gelles describing how the pandemic would change the company’s business resonated with me on a couple of levels. “We
.orgSource
JUNE 29, 2021
We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now. Martin Luther King, Jr. The proof that we are citizens of the world, no matter how fiercely we choose to localize, was one of the pandemic’s profound lessons. Technology has created an interdependent global economy.
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As the pandemic advanced, we were keenly aware of the apprehension and pain throughout our community. Clients and colleagues contacted us with questions about managing revenue shortfall, introducing new technology, and preparing for changing membership patterns. The.orgCommunity organized a Think Tank to help identify trends and crystalize our outlook on the future of membership. The sessions were facilitated by Elizabeth Engel, Chief Strategist, Spark Consulting. This article is the result of feedback gleaned during those dialogues, previous research, and the viewpoints of the.orgSource team.
.orgSource
JUNE 9, 2021
What should we call it—the New Normal, the Next Normal, Another Normal? Please let go of normal. When the DJ stopped playing oldies, Normal left the party.
.orgSource
OCTOBER 4, 2021
To say that emergency nurses must be ready for anything is an understatement. This is a profession that routinely prepares for the unexpected. As CEO of the Emergency Nurses Association, Nancy MacRae knows how to be sure-footed in a volatile environment.
.orgSource
JUNE 14, 2021
When do you stop having a choice? In May 2019, when the panel discussion below was first published in the.orgSource newsletter, digital transformation probably wasn’t top of mind for most association leaders.
.orgSource
APRIL 6, 2021
Investing in a learning management system is no longer a choice. An LMS is much more than an enhancement to your website. It is essential equipment in a business environment that is challenging organizations to provide smarter, faster, and more engaging solutions for their customers than ever before.
.orgSource
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
Ninety percent of success is having the right connections. I love helping my colleagues make those important contacts.orgCommunity’s Solutions in Action webinar features the association industry’s most resourceful experts.
.orgSource
MAY 26, 2021
When marketing got hitched to technology and changed its name to MarTech, their relationship caught fire. That marriage is making an indelible impact on the way associations operate and their ability to engage with members.
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Association executives—and hopefully their boards—know that they are facing perilous times. Driven by the pace of cultural and technological change, they are experiencing major disruptions in the traditional business models that used to guide organizational growth strategies.orgSource offers a straightforward approach to navigating these changes and readying your organization for growth.
.orgSource
MAY 19, 2021
The smiles are back! Yesterday the CDC announced that anyone who is fully vaccinated need not wear a mask in most circumstances. But wait. The comments on my Facebook page tell an interesting story. Everyone isn’t jumping on Open Table or heading to the movies.
.orgSource
MAY 28, 2021
What magic will– Define your association as the go-to source for education and career development? Engage members to click, like, share, download, purchase, and participate? Generate revenue, increase recognition, and build reputation? It’s a tall order, but no wands or capes are involved.
.orgSource
FEBRUARY 25, 2021
How do you grow membership in a harsh climate? Attracting a wider audience and turning those customers into community is a good way to start. We’ve been on notice since well before the pandemic that shifts are occurring in why people join an association and what they want once they sign on.
.orgSource
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
Smart CEOs understand that the quickest path to success is the one where the team travels with you. Skill-building across the organization isn’t just good leadership, it’s good for leaders. Professional development is a wise use of resources. Just be sure to make yourself part of the group.
.orgSource
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Laird Crawford has straddled the virtual and in-person worlds for some time now. He edits the mumbles out of podcasts and makes people look better on video than they do in person. Over the last 25 years, Laird’s company, Ian Ryan Interactive, has been my go-to for audio-visual success.
As part of building a new supporter journey (from making a one-time donation to becoming a sustaining supporter), The Denan Project set out to shorten the time between the first donation and the recurring donations.
.orgSource
AUGUST 17, 2021
Artificial intelligence has moved into customer service departments. Whether it’s Alexa, Watson, or Hal, you can’t visit a website without a super-friendly little bot popping up on the right side of your screen. We are accustomed to the convenience of getting questions answered immediately.
.orgSource
MARCH 2, 2021
What does a technology investment have in common with a woolly mammoth? You guessed it: They are both a big, hairy deal. Whether you’re looking for a small, mid-sized, or major system, a lot is riding on that purchase. The stakes are more about success than money.
.orgSource
FEBRUARY 9, 2021
From VIP clubs to fancy swag and tiered pricing, the tactics to win members’ hearts are only limited by imagination. When the economy, technology, or social disruption, like the pandemic, threatens to come between us and our reason for being, a little panic is understandable.
.orgSource
AUGUST 9, 2021
“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry What do Spotify, Robinhood, and HelloFresh have in common? Here’s a clue.
.orgSource
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
Are you an association professional with your eye on the corner office? If you also like roller coasters, bumper cars, and Whack-a-Mole, you have what it takes. Being the CEO has never been easy.
.orgSource
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
The best IT systems are the ones you don’t think about. They make child’s play out of data analytics, keep users smiling, and reliably work to boost the bottom line. Does that sound like your technology experience? I didn’t think so. There’s a reason why.
.orgSource
JULY 19, 2021
Getting strategic planning right is challenging in the best of times. This season of disruption adds additional complexity and brings significant shifts in perspective that are important to recognize as associations prepare for the years ahead.
.orgSource
AUGUST 22, 2021
Mike Moss isn’t a mechanic, but he and his team spent the last year tinkering in a garage. They weren’t taking engines apart and rebuilding them. But the work they did paid off big time. Moss is president of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP).
.orgSource
MAY 4, 2021
Remember the good old days? Once every three years, you gathered the board and staff in a conference room with baked goods, a lot of caffeine, and a facilitator. They produced what was euphemistically called a strategic plan. Often this document had more in common with a laundry list than strategy.
.orgSource
AUGUST 2, 2021
What happens when your team drives the DeLorean Back to the Future and the board isn’t along for the ride? The office might boast the latest technology with a staff that is ready and able to grow and change.
.orgSource
JULY 27, 2021
Greg Larkin, our keynote speaker at.orgCommunity’s July 14 Innovation Summit, was quick to admit that he was feeling a little rusty being in front of an audience for the first time in over a year. “I’m I’m freaking out,” was what he actually said.
.orgSource
APRIL 28, 2021
A colleague recently confided in me that although her association is facing serious challenges, the board isn’t interested in learning how to govern more effectively. Her attempts to educate them are always met with resistance. You can guess where this group is headed.
.orgSource
JULY 7, 2021
In the movie Groundhog Day, actor Bill Murray is condemned to live the same day of his life over, and over, and over again. Groundhog Day thinking is the seductive loop that lurks in offices and conference rooms tempting us to reject fresh ideas for recycled solutions.
.orgSource
JUNE 22, 2021
Anyone who has spent time here in Chicago knows that the weather can turn from sunshine to flurries in the time it takes to stroll a block down the Mag Mile. This fickle about-face seems to be happening everywhere. We spent the last year urging people to stay home.
.orgSource
APRIL 6, 2021
The conference ROI slowly rose like a gator lifting its head from the swamp of negative numbers. But membership dues, product sales, and web analytics are sinking deeper into quicksand. Even facing a dismal scenario like this, the decision to call for outside expertise can be difficult.
.orgSource
MAY 11, 2021
I frequently write the words digital and success in the same sentence. Technology is important. A weak infrastructure at the beginning of 2020 meant it was a very hard year. As much as I value electronic connectivity, culture or the human side of business will always be the imperative.
.orgSource
APRIL 21, 2021
Siloed organizations used to be hard to manage; today, they are a real business liability. Success in the digital marketplace depends on a holistic approach—this is a mantra that I can’t repeat frequently enough. Systems, teams, and departments must all be directed toward common goals.
.orgSource
APRIL 13, 2021
My fascination with technology began when I realized it would help me become better at something I love—dealing with challenging problems. Originally,orgSource was focused on software and hardware solutions.
.orgSource
MARCH 31, 2021
The conference ROI slowly rose like a gator lifting its head from the swamp of negative numbers. But membership dues, product sales, and web analytics are sinking deeper into quicksand. Even facing a dismal scenario like this, the decision to call for outside expertise can be difficult.
.orgSource
MARCH 24, 2021
You wouldn’t go to the bank for a loan without a fine-tuned business plan or approach a fundraising prospect for a major gift before learning everything you could about their interests.
.orgSource
MARCH 16, 2021
I found a relic of my former life when I was organizing my files. It was a presentation I created back in January 2020. The title was Association 4.0—Creating Creating Community in a Less Social World. I planned to use the deck to launch a new series of in-person Think Tanks.
.orgSource
MARCH 10, 2021
Podcasts are the perfect learning tool for multitaskers. You can walk the dog, workout, or pick up a Starbucks and be educated and entertained at the same time. That’s why.orgSource,orgCommunity’s partner consultancy, is excited to launch the Association 4.0 series.
.orgSource
FEBRUARY 17, 2021
What’s the single best thing you can do for your career? It doesn’t require special training, it’s never too late to get started, better still, it will return your investment of energy and effort many times over.
.orgSource
FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Congratulations! Online interviewing didn’t make you skip a beat. You found the talent to complete your dream team. You’re probably feeling pretty lucky. But you might be less than enthusiastic about navigating those first months of learning to work together through the small screen.
.orgSource
JANUARY 27, 2021
Every new hire is either an opportunity for success or a challenge to it. No recruit is neutral. If there are people on your team who don’t rock the boat, but never move it forward, that’s a drain on precious resources.
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