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Evaluating the board’s performance
Shawna Strickland and Bob Harris Association ManagementThe last item on the board's agenda read, "Board Evaluation." The last page in the board packet was a self-evaluation — sort of a report card for the board. Two of the directors noticed the items with curiosity. One said, "They can't evaluate us, we are all volunteers."
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Top 10 tips for dealing with the news media
Michael Kleiner and John Shiffert Association Management"Dealing" with the news media may not be at the top of your bucket list. In fact, it's probably true that most association professionals would prefer not to "deal" with the media. After all, that's what PR professionals are for, at least initially — they serve as a buffer and/or a conduit between you and the "60 Minutes" crew that shows up unexpectedly, wanting an interview.
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Top 20 checklist for sharing news
Randall Craig CommunicationsHow does your organization share important news? In the olden days, a press release did the trick, but in today's age of distraction (and Twitter), this hardly is the most effective approach. While there are literally thousands of ways to share, here is our Top 20 list.
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The first bite: Dealing with conflicts of interest
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementThe chairman of the board explained his perspective about directors benefiting from board service: "Because our board members are volunteers, the best way to ensure they receive payback is give them first bite at business opportunities in the association."
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Stop trying to ‘own the room’
Justin Patton Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe've all heard it before. A high-potential new manager receives advice on how to show up with stronger confidence and presence. She's told that classic line, "Walk in and own the room!" Please, stop saying this. It's awful advice.
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Capturing the fundraising power of millennials
Jim Alvarez Association ManagementMillennials — otherwise known as Generation Y, digital natives, Generation Me, Generation Rent and echo boomers — are generally defined as those born roughly between 1980 and 2000. The group is increasingly making their presence known with an estimated 75.4 million millennials currently living in the United States.
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How to increase ideas and reduce complaints right now
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAs leaders, we have the luxury of making and implementing decisions rather quickly. Instead of having to convince layers of people above us why something is a good idea, we need only convince ourselves it is worth doing. The problem arises when implementing good ideas conflicts with our modus operandi. In such cases, if we take a minute to listen, we will hear ways to increase ideas and decrease complaints that we can implement right away.
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Every good leader needs to know FACTS
Damon Sayles Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMost of us will agree — if we sit and think about it — that there’s a substantial difference between being a leader and being a manager. Some may even argue that while a person can be taught to be a manager, that same person cannot be taught to be a leader. True leaders, however, are about the overall vision of not only the company but the future of the business. A good leader is all about facts — or, in this case, FACTS.
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Is gender bias really that big of a problem?
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementHow can we live in one of the most advanced societies in history and still be fighting biases in the workplace? With amazing opportunities, continued focus on improving corporate culture and advances in the ways we can work together, is it really possible that gender bias is still a problem? Much of the problem with gender bias is how subtle and simultaneously pervasive it is.
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Is my board broken?
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementIn a meeting with association executives, I asked, "Is there anything wrong with your board of directors?" I chronicle the replies and offer solutions. Of course, the purpose of a board is to govern the association. Directors serve as trustees or fiduciaries on behalf of the membership. Meetings of the board should produce results. This article features the concerns of a dozen executives.
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