Culture Can Impede Association Revenue Growth

Culture Can Impede Association Revenue Growth

Did you ever wonder how the fictional TV character and Football Coach Eric Taylor delivered football championships at two different high schools? Good leaders know, having the right culture drives strong morale, productivity and performance.

In case you are dealing with other priorities, count on board members or a mentor to suggest you address the internal culture.  It’s good advice.

Tips to Drive Culture Change

Checklist:

  1. Establish a neutral and safe environment.  Hire an outside facilitator, they will effectively  engage everyone. They will earn credibility and trust as they move the process forward with clarity and purpose.
  2. Be clear at the start that you want one team applying mutual respect. Everyone helps each other to drive advocacy success, member satisfaction and growth.
  3. Everyone has equal footing. The entire team is accountable for creating the newly integrated and culture.
  4. Follow-up is critical.  Vision and mission statements, performance objectives, annual compensation assessments reflect the new culture.
  5. Recognize success at staff meetings. Be generous in your praise, be specific citing how collaboration makes the difference.

Culture Can Impede Association Revenue Growth

Former colleagues reminded me of the culture change and the  turnaround performance we achieved. Despite a weak economy we grew membership and revenue. Change was difficult,  it included some tough lessons for me too. I’m thankful for what everyone learned in the process.

As CEO’s,  we own the culture. If it’s collaborative, respectful and integrated our chances of achieving growth are greater. Will you be tempted to avoid ruffling feathers? Yes and count on it, you will.  My advice? Listen to Coach Taylor  “… you gotta try. That’s what character is. It’s in the try.”

association revenue growth

 

Free eBook “Accelerating Strategic Member Engagement” is available for all Association Executives at www.potomaccore.com,www.icimo.com, and www.verticalleapconsulting.com.

 

By Dan Varroney

3 decades of experience working with multiple Industries and understanding different Association challenges by helping build strategies that add long term value. Comprehensive understanding of Associations, as Senior Vice President for the National Association of Manufacturers’ National Membership & Grass Roots operation, as President of the American Solutions Advocacy organization, & as President and CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth. Considerable background on impact of legislative and regulatory policy on Industries, has provided analysis on economic performance and M&A trends in outlets that include CNBC, CNBC Europe, Fox News, Fox Business, Dow Jones Marketwatch, Bloomberg, and the BBC. Strategic perspectives are frequently sought out by CEO Update, a leading source for Association news and information. Authored over 145 blog articles on Strategic Planning & Member Engagement. Facilitates knowledge sharing among forty -five Association CEO’s at the Growth Strategies & Member Engagement Forum.  Served as a member of the Prince William County, Virginia Strategic Business Planning Team. District Three Councilman in the Village of Palatine, Cook County, Illinois, twenty one years. B.A. in American History from the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. and earned a Certificate from the Yale School of Management, New Haven, Connecticut in Leadership and Team Effectiveness. Member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).