12/12/2024

Understanding What Shapes Exceptional Associations

Whether associations realize their potential for impact depends on many factors

During a World Café-style dialogue in September, a participant made a familiar point: Collectively, associations represent solutions to every societal problem. That is an especially resonant idea to those whose profession is association management. Yet whether associations realize their potential for impact, now and in the future, depends on so many factors. Dedication to mission, foresightful leadership, effective decision making and adaptability to change all come to mind, as does being at the table to inform critical decision making about issues that affect society.

The setting for the comment was the Sept. 10, 2024, ASAE Research Foundation World Café, the second such event that began with 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don’t, the recently revised ASAE book, as a discussion springboard and yielded insights into how associations will need to comport themselves to be exceptional in a complex, fast, and changing environment.

The September event, with the participation of 75-plus leaders from the association community, took place at the ASAE office in Washington, D.C. World Café expert Paul Borawski, FASAE, CAE, facilitated a wide-ranging discussion. Louisville Tourism sponsored the gathering, as it did the first thought summit, which was held on June 17, 2024, at the Association Management Center in Chicago. The foundation’s goal is to engage insights that will support research, resources and community dialogue to advance effective leadership and organizational success.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.