Posts by Sherry Budziak
My Perspective, May 2020: Reaction, Assessment, and Renewal—Thoughts on Moving Through the Pandemic
The worst thing about a crisis can be the uncertainty surrounding the outcome. We all have coping strategies to pass the time before there’s a verdict on our well-being. One of mine is gathering information. When I’m not sure how a situation will unfold, I collect data, connect with colleagues, tap my network, and become…
Read MoreSix Strategies for Success in the New Reality
The economic and social challenges of this pandemic have cast a harsh spotlight on leadership. If you are sitting in the corner office, you have a unique opportunity to prove that you belong in that big chair. Although there is no playbook for this crisis, there are attitudes and behaviors that support the heavy lifting…
Read MoreDigital Leaders Fly Ahead of Disruption
Technology is our silent partner in the challenging job of keeping the economy moving during COVID-19. This health crisis has taught us that the more we make the digital world our world, the better equipped we will be to manage both business and life in the face of disruption. Associations who were early adopters of…
Read MoreMy Perspective, April 2020: Business as Usual Has Left the Building
Spending hours (a lot of hours) with the people we are closest to and zero time with everyone else is one of a thousand things that seem out of balance in our new reality. It isn’t easy to stifle fear and stoke the resilience, hope and creativity needed to be strong until we see the…
Read MoreScenario Planning Builds a Resilient Future
Should we cancel the conference? Are layoffs needed to keep the organization afloat? How much of the reserves can we safely spend? Responsibility for the decisions that make or break an organization is the tough side of leadership. Selling a solution to everyone who must agree can be even harder. But you don’t need nerves…
Read MoreVirtual Meetings Grow Association Communities—How to Get Started
Canceling a conference is a decision that most association CEO’s never imagined they would be forced to make. But many organizations recently faced that challenge, and more will probably do so in the near future. Fortunately, technology now gives us alternate ways to continue our work, including providing members with education and fellowship. Virtual conferences…
Read MoreAn Integrated Digital Strategy Is a Lifeboat in Turbulent Water
In a crisis, like the current pandemic, an integrated digital strategy can make the difference between business as usual and a meltdown. Travis Cheatham, Director of Technology Operations and Digital Solutions at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, has firsthand understanding of how the right approach to technology can impact an organization’s ability to navigate…
Read MoreRemote Doesn’t Mean Removed—Lead a Successful Virtual Team
Living in the shadow of COVID-19 can feel like being stuck in a bad science fiction movie, but there are positives to be found in this challenging situation. Many of us will have the opportunity to be our best personal and professional selves. If you are heading a remote team, you can be a leader…
Read MoreTurn Panic into Purpose—Lead Through COVID-19 with Confidence
My email and phone are burning with questions and concerns from leaders facing the tough decisions that COVID-19 is forcing upon us. Choices that plunge a budget deep into the red and threaten member engagement are gut-wrenching, but the difficult decisions are easier when you have expert advice. We looked to our colleagues Adele Cehrs,…
Read MoreMy Perspective, March 2020: Innovation Summit Connects the Dots on Entrepreneurship, Invention and Future Success
“Connect the dots” is an expression we heard frequently when we were writing our new book, Association 4.0: An Entrepreneurial Approach to Risk, Courage and Transformation. The entrepreneurs we interviewed used it to describe the ability to spot opportunity and seize it to fill a pressing need in the marketplace. .orgCommunity’s February 20th Innovation Summit…
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