Posts by Sherry Budziak
Get Everyone Singing Together—Align Content to Strategy
You invested in the right technology and developed a solid strategic plan. Now, the team is rolling out new member-success initiatives. Why aren’t people paying attention? The numbers are still slipping. It might be because customers aren’t hearing your important story. Content, or the words, ideas, facts, and images, that you use to promote your…
Read MoreBuild a Culture To Fit the New World of Work
Who on your team is spending the lunch hour scrolling the job sites? I can guarantee that someone is seriously searching for their next opportunity. And, the most likely candidate is probably one of your rising stars. If that thought gives you an uncomfortable shiver, read on. In a world where the office, as we…
Read MoreRecharge Your Imagination at the Innovation Summit
Sponsored by Impexium, Association.TV, and .orgSource Could your imagination use a recharge? Do you want the rush of a fresh perspective? If the answer is yes, I have a suggestion. Join me and some of the savviest association leaders in our industry at the Innovation Summit on June 9. This signature event is curated by…
Read MoreENA Makes Culture a Magnet for Talent
I once overheard a volunteer at a nonprofit organization say that replacing a key staffer would be easy. Not only did this employee have impressive credentials, she also was making significant contributions to the group. However, in this board member’s view, there were plenty of eager young professionals who could step into that important spot.…
Read MoreFind the Athletes You Need to Innovate
Don Dea and Hugh Lee, the co-founders of DigitalNow, are colleagues I look to as voices from the future. In an interview for our book, “Association 4.0: An Entrepreneurial Approach to Risk, Courage, and Transformation,” Don made this prediction. “In order to help workers adapt, associations will need to find and hire terrific athletes. Talent…
Read MoreThe Right Tech Tools Deliver the Frosting and the Cake
.orgCommunity’s June 9 Innovation Summit showcases the most interesting trends in the association industry and the people who make them happen. Planning this event is an annual reset. It’s an opportunity to consider fresh ideas and the strategies that keep them growing. It’s also a chance to discover the technology that supports this new thinking.…
Read MoreSay Goodbye to the Evil Twins and Use Disruption to Grow
Fear of change and fear of failure are the evil twins. In business, being afraid to fail is a safe strategy. Mess up and you could lose that bonus, kiss your raise goodbye, or maybe even get fired. That’s why it can be hard for people to change. The pandemic neutralized both those barriers. We…
Read MoreStrengthen Your Core—8 Competencies for Success in Digital Markets
As a consultant, I’m in the business of giving advice. But I’ll tell you a secret, my best recommendations often come from the outstanding colleagues and leaders in my network. “Pathways to Excellence: A Journey to Association 4.0,” is a paper that outlines our strategies for success in the digital marketplace. We identified eight traits…
Read MoreTo Discover Possibility, Explore Options—Highlights of .orgCommunities’ Solutions in Action Program
Before 2019, could you name a virtual meeting platform? There are no points for Zoom. My guess is that not many readers could do this. Don’t you wish that you’d been ahead of that curve? It’s tough keeping up with technology. But understanding the products and services that make our lives as association leaders easier…
Read MoreGet Them to Build Castles—Strategies for Successful Cross-Functional Teams
Great leaders rely on both sides of the brain. The right brain meticulously lays out the goals and follows the tasks, timeline, and budget. The left brain uses emotional intelligence, empathy, creativity, and artful facilitation to keep all the players working productively together. The more diverse the group, the harder the left brain must work.…
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