If you asked me to describe the future of associations in one word, it would be “transformation.” And, if you asked why I made that choice, I would say “AI.”

Maybe you are not keen on becoming a butterfly. Perhaps your organization is one of those tradition-bound groups with a history that has been a decades-long cast iron model for culture, governance, and operations.

Remaining in that safe cocoon may seem like a wise choice. Unfortunately, it is an unsustainable option. If you choose relevance over resignation, then learning to assimilate, adapt, and evolve must become organizational priorities. In an AI-powered market, we either fly or die.

Sharon Rice, .orgSource Managing Director of Business Strategy, described the situation like this. “AI is a superpower. It is probably the most transformative technology in the history of humanity. It mimics human thought patterns and gives us access to vast amounts of usable content that we haven’t previously been able to corral. And we’re still at the very beginning of this journey!

“How we incorporate this unique ability into our organizations is critically important. Most of us are wondering how AI will impact the future of work and our own professions. What is significant about this moment in time is that we can choose. We can decide what experiences and relationships to create.”

AI gives you unprecedented ability to predict environmental shifts.

Yes, AI is the mega disruptor. But there are two sides to the coin. As Sharon suggests, we have agency. We can choose our approach. My recommendation is to fight fire with fire. Make AI your champion for change. Here are several examples of how AI can be integrated into transformation initiatives.

Evaluate the Road Ahead

As the oracle of data, AI gives you an unprecedented ability to predict environmental shifts. While its expertise at wrangling a stampede of ideas into a herd allows you to lean into unfamiliar situations.

Paired with scenario planning, decision trees, SWOT analysis and similar forecasting techniques AI can bring order to confusing or precarious situations and give you the confidence to make hard choices.

Using AI to help formulate penetrating questions and analyze the corresponding data, can pinpoint gaps in talent, knowledge, and resources. Then going a step further, AI can evaluate that information and make recommendations for addressing the shortfalls. This advice won’t be perfect, but it will be a reliable starting point for makeovers or new initiatives.

If you don’t already have a robust AI-driven analytics package, you are missing a critical guide for evaluating your own performance and navigating the future.

Jumpstart Professional Development

In the digital marketplace, the days of mastering a task or job are gone. Responsibilities shift and change with every twist in the technology landscape. We are all challenged to become perpetual learners who work at the speed of business.

Fortunately, AI excels at professional development. When your data uncovers a need for upgraded skillsets, an AI-powered learning platform can become your team’s personalized instructor and coach. AI streamlines training by allowing employees to move through information at their own pace. It also can provide individualized feedback along the way.

In addition, AI offers a systematized yet flexible way to onboard new talent. Chatbots can be trained to efficiently answer newbies questions bolstering confidence as they master their roles.

These are examples of AI-driven learning products that are currently available.

  • iSpring Learn–suitable for corporate training programs like compliance training, employee onboarding, and soft skills training
  • Docebo—Offers analytics to help managers evaluate learner performance and improve training
  • LearnUpon—helps users create engaging training courses, with AI assistance for content recommendations and course creation
  • 360Learning—Combines AI features with collaborative tools to encourage engagement and soft skills development

If your LMS does not incorporate robust AI features, now might be the time to investigate an update. Providing tools that inspire teams to expand their horizons builds the culture of learning organizations need to succeed in the future.

Encourage Collaboration

Collaboration is a critical aspect of change management. I am passionate about the need to integrate information and strategy across teams. Siloed organizations simply can’t move fast enough to meet the current market demands. If your group is experiencing difficulty orchestrating teams and technology, AI can help.Apps like MicroSoft 365 Copilot can analyze messages, notes, calendars, and work products to identify where there are both gaps and overlaps in responsibility. Copilot can be a silent partner who gathers and synthesizes information from meetings from every department to highlight opportunities for partnering and innovation. This scrutiny can uncover relevant content and connections that might otherwise remain hidden.

Communications platforms like Slack and Teams are integrating AI features including intelligent assistants, meeting summaries, and sentiment analysis. Trello, Asana, and Airtable have added AI to their project management features.

Meet the Moment

I’ve been writing and speaking about digital transformation for years. AI takes that process to a new order of magnitude. This technology forces us not only to integrate systems. but to become digital thinkers and strategists. Transformation can’t be a one-time event. It must be a continuous evolution.

I advise every client about the need for ongoing evaluation—the importance of staying ahead of current and future threats and opportunities by preparing for disruption before it happens.

Garth Jordan, CEO at the American Animal Hospital Association offered this advice for meeting the moment. “A lot has changed over the last 10 to 15 years. Associations are still among the more risk-averse industries, a luxury we can no longer afford. Fingertip content, education, and unique digital community experiences are eating away at our primary business model. Leaders are beginning to realize that tradition offers no safety.

“My passion revolves around risk-taking and challenging. I’m compelled to reverse any complacency within associations. I want to challenge leaders to think differently, to use technology in innovative ways, to reconsider our business model, and to lead with a fresh perspective on everything from product lines to member service.”

Garth’s vision is a tall order for most leaders. But AI is a catalyst that can help you accomplish those transformative goals. Harness that power as your new agent for change.

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