BLOG – Part 5 of 6 – Before the Cliff: Responding Strategically to Membership Decline
Membership decline doesn’t usually arrive as a dramatic drop—it creeps in quietly, with fewer renewals, weaker engagement, and plateauing growth. Many associations don’t act until they’re at the brink of disaster. But waiting for a crisis is not a strategy. This blog challenges association leaders to treat membership trends as early signals, not late-stage symptoms—and […]
BLOG – Part 4 of 6 – AI in the Boardroom: Governing Ethically and Strategically in the Age of Algorithms
Introduction AI is no longer a future challenge—it’s a present one. From member data to content generation, associations are already using artificial intelligence. But without clear policies, ethical frameworks, or strategic oversight, these tools risk amplifying bias, breaching privacy, or automating decision-making without accountability. Boards must take the lead in shaping how, why, and whether […]
BLOG – Part 3 of 6 – Accelerated Exits: Succession Planning in the Age of Constant Change
In a world defined by acceleration, the length of executive tenures is shrinking. Many association CEOs now stay in their roles just 4.5 to 7 years. Some depart due to burnout, others are recruited elsewhere, and still more leave when transformation efforts run aground. Succession is no longer an if—it’s a when. And it’s happening […]
Part 2 of 6 – Redefining the Role: From Curation to Creation in the Executive Director Seat
The Executive Director (ED) (CSO) has historically been viewed as the person tasked with maintaining programs, managing staff, and preserving organizational history. But as disruption becomes the norm, that orientation is no longer sufficient. The association executive of the future must not only maintain the house but also be willing to redesign it. The ED […]
Why Strategic Planning Fails—and What Associations Must Do Instead
Strategic planning has long been a mainstay of association management. Every few years, boards and staff gather to define goals, outline priorities, and chart a course for the future. Yet, despite the effort, many associations find themselves no more capable, adaptive, or aligned after the plan is written than they were before. Why? Because strategic […]
Leading in the Age of Disruption – Part 1 of 6 – Leading from the Edge: Adaptive Leadership for the Next Era of Associations
Associations are facing a cascade of disruptions: accelerated technology, shifting demographics, political polarization, and evolving member expectations. In this new environment, the old rules of leadership no longer apply. Stable environments have favored predictable planning, incremental improvement, and control-oriented management. But stability is no longer the norm. What’s needed now is adaptive leadership—a framework built […]
Is “Breaking” – Broke?
Have you ever noticed how many times a day you’re interrupted by a push notification that screams “Breaking News!”? Whether it’s from a cable news network, a news app, or a social media platform, these alerts come at us like sirens in the night—loud, frequent, and anxiety-inducing. But here’s the real question: When was the […]
Behaving for the Future: Embracing New Power in Association Leadership
The nature of power is changing. In New Power, authors Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms argue that old power is like a currency—held by few and spent carefully—while new power behaves more like a current, open, and participatory, gaining strength as more people contribute. For associations, this shift offers both a challenge and an opportunity. […]
Stability in an Unstable World: Why Associations and Government Must Support Research and Higher Education
In today’s BANI world—Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible—change is relentless, systems fracture unexpectedly, and certainty is a vanishing luxury. In such an environment, research and higher education function as stabilizing forces. They build adaptive capacity, generate critical insight, and prepare society for volatility. For associations and governments alike, supporting these institutions is not simply a […]
Honoring Freedom: Why Associations Should Celebrate Juneteenth
Introduction: Juneteenth—celebrated each year on June 19—marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Now recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is more than a commemoration of delayed freedom; it is a day to honor Black Americans’ resilience, […]