EPISODES 61-70

Ep 61: Fonteva's State of Membership Review 2022

After two years of unprecedented change for individuals and organizations both societally and globally, with their 2022 State of Membership Survey Fonteva wanted to learn not just about where associations have been, but where they are going. Many associations have adapted and evolved as the needs and expectations of their members have changed and many have stepped into numerous roles to lead and be a resource for their industries or professions. So what is the state of membership? Jay Daughtry joins Elisa and Andrew to assess. Fonteva's report is available at https://marketing.fonteva.com/l/34462... and the full survey results can be downloaded at https://marketing.fonteva.com/l/34462....

Ep 62: Disruption and opportunity? A review of #ASAE22

At this year's ASAE Annual Meeting, keynote speaker Marcus Whitney encouraged association professionals to reexamine their perception of innovation and offered practical lessons on how organizations could be creative and goal-oriented. But what else did we learn from #ASAE22? Elisa and Andrew are joined by association community specialist, blogger, and fellow podcaster, Kiki L'Italien to discuss the lessons learned from Nashville. You can listen to Kiki's podcast at https://associationchat.com.

Ep 63: The quagmire of leadership relationships

Constructive relationships amongst association leadership are fundamental to an organisation's success but too often we've seen tensions emerge between volunteer leaders and association professionals. Unless we invest in our relationships, it can be far too easy for an association's leadership team to descend into an emotional quagmire. Elisa and Andrew explore the reasons why these tensions can exist and examine what can be done to ensure relationship success.

Ep 64: The transformative power of the CAE

Association management is a vocation; it is a profession; and for an increasing number of people, it is a career choice. It is a craft which requires a complex mix of skills, knowledge, and experience, dexterously combining knowledge of association culture, structure, and politics, with a wide spectrum of professional expertise, ranging from strategy and advocacy to marketing and event management, and everything in between. Defining and maintaining shared professional standards is therefore imperative for the long-term success of the profession. Elisa and Andrew are joined by sector specialist, CAE evangelist, and host of Nonprofit Conversations, Cecilia Sepp to discuss the transformative power of professional recognition and accreditation.

Ep 65: A 4-day week is a 4-day win

A hundred years ago, we moved from working six day weeks to five, and we’re overdue for an update. As we progress through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the 4-day week is a proposed reduction in the work week from a standard 40 hours to 32 hours for the same pay and benefits. Through a variety of pilots across the world, this reduction has been proven to work for employees and employers. The pandemic made it clear we can find a better balance between work and life, and the results of the pilots demonstrate a growing willingness to widely adopt this new model of working. This week Elisa and Andrew are joined by Mark Downs, CEO of the Royal Society of Biology, which is participating in the latest UK pilot (as possibly the only membership body thus far to engage with the model), to discuss the impacts of a 4-day week on the organisation's productivity, staff wellbeing, and member engagement.

Ep 66: A simple but significant strategy for success

All boards know that strategy is important; but almost all also find it daunting. Planning forces directors to confront a future they can only guess at. Worse, actually choosing a strategy entails making decisions that explicitly cut off possibilities and options, and a board may well fear that getting those decisions wrong will wreck their organisation's chances of long-term success. This week, to kick off Season 4, Elisa and Andrew are joined by Larry Paska from the National Council for the Social Studies, who explains their formula for defining and delivering a strategic plan that is realising sustained success for the NCSS and its members.

Ep 67: Emerging trends and priorities in 2023

What are the emerging trends and priorities impacting membership bodies in 2023? Elisa and Andrew take a look at the challenges and opportunities which they suggest leadership teams should be exploring in the year ahead.

Ep 68: Change resistant challenges

Has the “rubber band of change” snapped? Dana Aragon of the National Society of Professional Engineers joins us for a broad and triggering conversation. From the band-aids of innovation used to get associations through the last 36 months to nonprofits reverting to the “way things have always been done”. Elisa, Andrew, and Dana deconstruct the association model and discuss how to survive and thrive despite “crisis burnout.”

Ep 69: Change from the inside out

New to the Chief Brand Experience Officer role, Allison Marrero visits the Association Transformation studios pulling back the curtain on her work as a “change junky.” Join Andrew and Elisa for this engaging and energetic discussion of the evolution of the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID’s Jessica Irizarry adds her perspective on the impact of change and the potential for value and growth.

Ep 70: A unicorn and puppy proposals

You’ve heard the debate: Association CEOs should come from industry. Others insist the chief staff executive should be a tested nonprofit leader. Well, we found a unicorn who breaks all the stereotypes. Elisa and Andrew are joined by Terry Baker, CEO of the Society of American Foresters, who reminds us that leadership success isn't based on industry versus association but rather the intentional combination of both. Oh, and he shares his leadership secret of “puppy proposals"...

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