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.…

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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…

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.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.…

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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…

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Last week I urged readers to take a closer look at their association’s business models. I’ll be the first to admit, that without the right systems in place, my advice might be hard to follow. We’ve all come to appreciate the value of data in planning and decision-making. Fancy new technology makes tracking clicks, opens,…

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Being a CEO today is a little like riding a bull. The experience is guaranteed to be bumpy. But, if you have half an hour to listen to someone else’s story, you can learn a lot about how others manage the challenge. The leaders I interview for my Association 4.0 podcast encourage me to think…

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Have you ever pushed a shopping cart with a loose, squeaky wheel? That one misalignment makes getting around the store frustrating and difficult. Associations move toward success on these four wheels. When you’re trying to get ahead, each of these elements needs to be in good working order. We devote significant time and scrutiny to…

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