Here on the AMO blog, we talk a lot about the ways you can improve and manage your association. Our posts usually focus on operational tips, marketing tricks, and user experience best practices.
Though those items are important to an association’s success, what truly helps an organization thrive is engagement. And the best engagement stems from great leaders who understand their member base, know the industry, and genuinely care about the needs of their members.
To help organizations grow and succeed, we’ve compiled the top 4 ways to be a great association leader.
1. Always be listening
Great leaders don’t just listen to members in physical conversations. They have their nets cast on all communication channels including social media, discussion forums, survey results, and the member portal. They may not be actively participating in each channel, but they’re aware of member conversations, needs, concerns, and questions.
2. Have a positive, futuristic outlook
The economic status of any industry ebbs and flows constantly. There’s no guarantee that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. This evolution is normal but can be challenging for leaders who lack a positive mindset. Members trust leaders with confidence and are more likely to join and engage with your group if you’ve got your sight set on future success.
3. Provide value
Great leaders are constantly evaluating the benefits their association provides. Are members happy with their benefits? Are people engaged with content? To ensure members feel fulfilled by association offerings, active leaders are always striving to provide value.
4. Check in frequently
Similar to point #1, successful leaders are consistently checking in with members. Whether that’s a physical interaction, a handwritten note, personal email, or a phone call, they’re intentional about frequent interactions. This direct contact makes members feel like they’re more than just a number in the database, that their presence, engagement, and contributions are truly valued.
Do you work with a stand out association executive? What are their common habits that make them successful? Tweet at us at @AMOupdates.
