Blogs

Barriers to Team Effectiveness

By Sherry Budziak posted 03-16-2017
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It is a truism that teamwork is important to achieve organizational goals. But what makes for effective teams? Association executive John Forbes has been conducting educational programs for .orgCommunity and I am excited that he will be with WSAE during its Spring Outing presenting to its CEOs in May! http://www.wsaespringouting.com/index.php/learn One thing we learned from John is how rare a truly effective team is. So, to learn more we extended the conversation, asking about the most significant barriers to teamwork that association executives were encountering. Two interrelated characteristics emerged at the top of the list of barriers to team effectiveness: ...
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Content Performance: 6 Essential Truths

By Sherry Budziak posted 03-01-2017
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Customers today are too busy and have too many choices to invest in content that isnt relevant or targeted for themno matter how great the content may be. To be the valued and preferred source of information for your customers, you must develop a content strategyand make this a priority for your organization. Oftentimes, what stands in the way of creating and deploying an organization-wide content strategy is not knowing how to create a content strategy or really understand how it differs from what you currently have in place. So lets break through these barriers and uncover the 6 essential truths you need to know about content strategy and content performance: ...
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Positioning the Association of the Future

By Sherry Budziak posted 02-08-2017
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.orgCommunity has been engaging association leaders in a series of discussions regarding the evolution of associations and the need for innovation. Emergingand as yet unseendisrupters will require significant changes in the nature of associations, how they envision fulfilling their missions and serve their constituencies. In some industries we already have seen complete transitions due to technological innovations. Blockbusters brick and mortar business for renting DVDs has completely disappeared as Netflix led the revolution to DVDs by mail and then streaming content. Other industriessuch as transportationare still very much in flux. It is safe to predict ...
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Brand Your Association Like Dr. Pavlov

By Michael DiFrisco posted 09-10-2016
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We all remember learning about the famous psychological experiments in conditioned reflex performed by Ivan Petrovich Pavlov around the turn of the previous century. In simple terms, Pavlov would ring a bell prior to feeding his dogs (his test subjects). The dogs came to associate the ringing of the bell with the presentation of the food, and Pavlov saw that they were quickly conditioned to respond to the bell ringing and anticipating their food. Soon, all the scientist had to do was ring the bell and observe the dogs increased saliva flow. Believe it or not, that same principle is at work in your association. When we hear a name, see a logo, whiff a particular ...
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Leadership Lessons from General Robin Olds

By Michael DiFrisco posted 08-27-2016
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Whenever I read a biography, I try to extract lessons that can help me in my career. And as a pilot and certified aviation geek, I’ve read a lot of books about storied aviators, the most recent of which was Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds. Robin Olds was an American fighter pilot and general officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was a “triple ace”, with a combined total of 16 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War and was one of history’s most badass heroes. He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general. See if any of these lessons I lifted from my reading resonate with you as they did for me: Great ...
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Pokémon Go: An Association Game Changer?

By Sherry Budziak posted 08-10-2016
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We all know Pokémon Go is a monster hit (pardon the pun). Two days after launch, it was downloaded on more phones than the dating app Tinder. More people were using it than Twitter. Users were on it longer each day than they were on Facebook. It’s the biggest mobile app game ever in the United States. How can your association use the Pokémon mania to its advantage? Or, rather, should it? A Go or No-Go? Consult Your Strategy First, you must consider whether Pokémon Go—or any breakthrough technology—fits in with your association’s big-picture priorities, supporting structures and processes. You want to avoid attempting to ...
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Content Marketing for Associations

By Aaron Manogue posted 08-05-2016
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Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to present to the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives about Content Marketing for Associations. It was a topic that I had constantly had conversations with association executives about over the past few years, so I thought I'd put together a presentation explaining the ins and outs of not only content marketing itself, but how associations and nonprofits can successfully institute a content marketing strategy of their own. The presentation was very well received, to my delight, so I wanted to share the main points with as many others as I could. Here are the main points I covered: What ...
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What 600 Associations Say About Their AMS

By Sherry Budziak posted 08-03-2016
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Association management software/systems are arguably organizations’ largest technology investment. They provide membership organizations with vital functionality for delivering member services, and serve multiple business purposes—from operating as the core system of record to event and learning management, email marketing campaigns, and much more. So why, then, are only half of AMS users satisfied with their current solution, according to ReviewMyAMS ? First, ReviewMyAMS.com Founder Teri Carden says the fact that half of AMS users recommend their AMS is a positive thing—that it debunks the notion “everyone” is unsatisfied with their AMS. ...
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7 Signs You're Due for a Communications Audit

By Sherry Budziak posted 07-24-2016
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Ever wonder whether your organization’s communications are on the mark with customers--and with the times? Do you ever finish writing or reviewing content and question: What’s in it for the members? Why should they care? Consider the communications audit: an assessment of the effectiveness of current content, formats, and frequency. Through qualitative and quantitative measures, communication audits help drive what content to publish, to whom, when, where, how and why. Is now the right time to take a critical look at your content? Here are seven signs that point to “yes”: More opt-outs and fewer click-throughs in your electronic communications. ...
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What Associations Need to Lead and Succeed in 'Digital'

By Sherry Budziak posted 07-24-2016
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Thanks to digital advancements, business as usual is no longer an option for associations. Not evolving means not surviving. But how exactly can associations transform and thrive in the digital age? “Association leaders must use digital to change not just ‘how’ but also ‘what’ you do in your jobs,” says Sharon Rice, principal of Art of Planning Consulting and APICS’ former vice president of strategy, at the “Leading Digital: From Strategy to Executive” program July 19 at Rosemont’s OLC Education & Conference Center . During the interactive program, produced by .orgCommunity and sponsored by Adage Technologies , facilitators addressed what’s driving digital ...
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Prepare for the Next Technology Wave: DISRUPT

By Sherry Budziak posted 06-29-2016
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Technology advancements are changing everything. Consider these current and future realities: Robotics are and will continue taking over some current jobs, allowing us to discover new ones. Many organizations are trading traditional offices and headquarters for virtual environments. Books, libraries, movies, videos, games and education will change as more individuals become “people of the screens”—tethered to their phones, tablets, PCs, TVs, VR goggles. More global freelancers are being hired. Citizen journalism is increasing—ordinary people are composing 80 million blog posts each day. Everything that can be tracked ...
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5 Essential Google Analytics Reports to Uncover What’s Happening on Your Website

By Aaron Manogue posted 05-25-2016
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Understanding the value that your website brings to your association is nothing new or groundbreaking. Your website can truly make or break the success of your organization and the growth of your membership. One of the most commonly used (and free, might I add) website analytics is Google Analytics. It tracks just about every action on your website to help provide your association with valuable insight. But, what do all the numbers and percentages mean? Unfortunately, most associations do not have data or analytical experts on staff to be able to analyze your data to unlock key strengths and weaknesses to improve your site. So having all of this data doesn’t ...
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The Content Marketing Gold Mine That's Right Under Your Nose

By Aaron Manogue posted 04-20-2016
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Content marketing was one of the topics that people brought up during our in-person meetings that they would love to learn more about. And on that same note, the lack of resources to produce continuous content needed to be effective in content marketing was the biggest setback of nearly all the participants. Whether you're part of a small association that has one or two marketing and communications people (like me), or your part of a large corporation that has hundred of great minds at work, we've all run into the dreaded doldrums of creativity when it comes to creating new, fresh content. It's one of the scariest, most-stressful parts of the great job we ...
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Mobile Apps vs. Conference Print: When & Why You Should Have Both at Your Next Conference [Infographic]

By Aaron Manogue posted 04-13-2016
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What Value Do You Truly Bring to Your Association's Membership? 5 Ways to Find Out

By Aaron Manogue posted 04-11-2016
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Working in the non-profit and association industry, there is always that one question that you get asked. The question that in all reality, is the basis for why our organizations do what they do. We all think we have that perfect elevator pitch that we can rattle off to prospective members or even just to answer a random inquiring mind. But, does your answer truly represent the value that you bring to your members? This question is something that must be answered with 100% certainty if you want your organization to continue to be successful, especially in a time where members expect clear and concise return on their investment of time and money. Here are ...
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Celebrating Associations: American Association of Endodontists

By Sherry Budziak posted 04-06-2016
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Celebrating Associations: American Association of Endodontists Celebrating Associations is a weekly blog produced by .orgCommunity , celebrating the achievements of associations and the great impact on the industries they serve. Association and History: Endodontists are root canal specialists, and endodontics is one of nine dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. The American Association of Endodontists , founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The AAE inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal ...
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Celebrating Associations: Orthopaedic Trauma Association

By Sherry Budziak posted 04-06-2016
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Celebrating Associations: Orthopaedic Trauma Association Celebrating Associations is a weekly blog produced by .orgCommunity , celebrating the achievements of associations and the great impact on the industries they serve. Association and History: Nearly 2,000 members worldwide belong to the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), which has been shaping musculoskeletal injury care for 32 years. The Rosemont, Ill.-based association provides the most current information on diagnosis, optimum treatments and ways to treat and prevent traumatic musculoskeletal injury to bone, muscle, ligaments, tendons and the spinal cord. In 2015, OTA transitioned ...
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Celebrating Associations: American College of Healthcare Executives

By Sherry Budziak posted 03-31-2016
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Celebrating Associations: American College of Healthcare Executives Celebrating Associations is a blog produced by .orgCommunity that highlights achievements of associations and the great impact on the industries they serve. Association and History: The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society for health care executives dedicated to improving health care delivery. It offers: The FACHE® credential 79 chapters that provide networking, education and career development at the local level Healthcare Executive magazine Career services and development ...
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Wednesday Wisdom- Step 5 in Achieving Digital Transformation

By Sherry Budziak posted 03-16-2016
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Six Steps for Achieving Digital Transformation: Step 5 This is the fifth entry in a six-part blog series about achieving digital excellence. Here, we discuss aligning stakeholders to help with flawless execution of your digital strategy . So far in our digital transformation series we’ve tackled: forming a digital strategy, achieving greater customer insight through data, establishing a clear roadmap of activities and goals, and creating clear metrics for success. In other words, we’ve created the digital transformation recipe, selected the ingredients, and done all the prep work. Now how do we ensure a flawless, fully baked execution? ...
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Explaining the Stigma Surrounding Printed Conference Materials

By Aaron Manogue posted 03-02-2016
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I find it intriguing that when I have conversations with people about how they offer their educational conference materials to attendees, they always assume that I’m there to push printed materials. This makes complete sense since I work for a company with the word “press” in the name and most assume I’m an advocate for printed materials for personal and professional benefit. They often forget thatOmnipress isn’t just a printer, and that we’ve evolved with the market and offer online conference materials and mobile apps as well; but, I digress. The real and singular reason that I’m truly an advocate for organizations to continue offering printed materials ...
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