tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7525894536466704172024-03-05T10:41:04.195-05:00Capacity to ChangeThe power to grow. To Learn.<br>
To Create. To Evolve. <br>
To overcome challenges. <br>
The power to make a difference.Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-52206088101007546552016-11-29T07:00:00.000-05:002016-11-29T12:39:38.985-05:00Why I am Donating to @CokeScholars<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1989, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation selected me as a scholarship recipient, one of the inaugural class of scholars chosen for not only academic achievement, but also for a commitment to lead and serve in their school, community, and the world. As you would expect, I was thankful for the funding that allowed me to attend The College of William and Mary. It made an immediate impact, and allowed me to continue on a path of learning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What was not as evident at the time was that by becoming a Coca-Cola Scholar, I was also joining a network of amazingly high-performing people who are leading change in communities across the United States and in countries across the world. I would also benefit from exceptional experiences afforded by the Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, and connections with other scholars. In the past 27 years, through the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation network I have met, experienced and learned so much:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I learned a bit of my family heritage from the Irish Ambassador to the US while volunteering at a registration table for a DC event;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had </span><a href="https://storify.com/gmeliaCAE/2013-coca-cola-scholars-leadership-summit" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an exceptional experience</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at a Leadership Summit bringing together scholars from across the many years of the program;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I heard from award winners from the International Center for Journalists, courageous </span><a href="http://www.icfj.org/blogs/leading-mexican-journalist-says-she-worries-about-trump-presidency" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">leaders</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> who are defending the </span><a href="http://www.icfj.org/secretary-kerry-salutes-courage-and-commitment-icfj-and-its-honorees" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">freedom of the press</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">;</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have connected to the stories of true difference makers including:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.recordnet.com/news/20161108/this-is-history-now-michael-tubbs-becomes-citys-first-black-mayor" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael Tubbs</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, Mayor of Stockton, CA</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coca-cola-scholar-elise-stefanik-is-the-youngest-woman-elected-to-congress" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elise Stefanik</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, Congresswoman representing New York's 21st district</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/education/edlife/christopher-gray-on-how-to-be-a-social-entrepreneur.html?_r=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christopher Gray</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, founder of Scholly, an app that helps students find scholarships</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.volunteennation.org/blog/pages/our-team" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Simone Bernstein</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and Scholar <a href="http://www.volunteennation.org/blog/pages/our-team" target="_blank">Jake Bernstein</a>: co-founders of VolunteenNation, a website that helps connect teenagers to volunteer service opportunities</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.millennialaction.org/steven-olikara/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steven Olikara</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, Co-founder and President of The Millennial Action Project </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had the honor of serving on an interview committee to help select a recent class of scholars - the accomplishments of the applicants reflected both exceptional achievement and limitless potential; and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More recently, I have been honored to grow through service on the Coca-Cola Scholars Alumni Advisory Board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, this Giving Tuesday I am giving to continue invest in the Coca-Cola Scholars network ... connections that cross campus lines, political parties, state and national boundaries, disciplines and generations.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>As 1995 Coca-Cola Scholar Nakeesha Seneb observed, </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><em>"If you have more than 5,000 people </em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><em>driven to make an impact on the world, </em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><em>and they have this incredible connection, </em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>a lot of change can certainly happen.”</em></strong></span> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coca-Cola Scholars, I challenge you to join me in investing in our capacity as a network, to support what we can do collectively. Together, we can all be better agents of change: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://connect.coca-colascholars.org/givingtuesday" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Give today for a better tomorrow.</span></a></span></div>
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Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-47789182026671408522015-01-30T10:21:00.000-05:002015-03-11T14:38:18.609-04:00Prepare Your Association for Its Futures<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Last week, I had the honor of addressing the Florida Society
of Association Executives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFhR0vtN_mCmY5lbkqL2pX00Z5lr1yd0gG0igYdwTxwcfBRpTRfshkIZd4q0ZScHHa-1dU_mRpRAmcqwRX5THPZr28NGB5ECDLfQf_rBEeNL-9Qk1hxOc_gSPVF9sQ_IPS0MwEst-xzTr/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFhR0vtN_mCmY5lbkqL2pX00Z5lr1yd0gG0igYdwTxwcfBRpTRfshkIZd4q0ZScHHa-1dU_mRpRAmcqwRX5THPZr28NGB5ECDLfQf_rBEeNL-9Qk1hxOc_gSPVF9sQ_IPS0MwEst-xzTr/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The program
was sponsored by <a href="http://www.hyatt.com/" target="_blank">Hyatt</a> Hotels of Florida, which is an exceptional supporter of the Florida association community. At the luncheon, the Hyatt team presented FSAE with a check to support individuals seeking to participate in <a href="http://institute.uschamber.com/" target="_blank">Institute</a> or to earn the <a href="http://www.conventionindustry.org/CMP/AboutCMP.aspx" target="_blank">CMP</a> or <a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/YourCareer/contentcae.cfm?ItemNumber=16097&navItemNumber=14985" target="_blank">CAE</a> certification. It's the 30th year Hyatt has supported such scholarships. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5zRcYYSk7d4j1N645BnHUSY_xt7a0d3zXzzWa4lhTelV4Ngu22SZCnb6Tfkpu5sxpSlHV3vUUBZurUtT1kbf279gVjFiAvacHE3p6WoKGul9QTYiciHAhaNWcNoOjeQNJkB3ixV-BnaQ/s1600/Hyatt+3000+Check+Presentation+1-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5zRcYYSk7d4j1N645BnHUSY_xt7a0d3zXzzWa4lhTelV4Ngu22SZCnb6Tfkpu5sxpSlHV3vUUBZurUtT1kbf279gVjFiAvacHE3p6WoKGul9QTYiciHAhaNWcNoOjeQNJkB3ixV-BnaQ/s1600/Hyatt+3000+Check+Presentation+1-15.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Introduction</span></b></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rchcae.com/" target="_blank">Bob Harris, CAE</a> asked that I speak about association innovation as an
integral part of preparing your association for the future.</span></div>
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<a href="https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2Feb4WoXPdY0%2Fmedia&width=810" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fp%2Feb4WoXPdY0%2Fmedia&width=810" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nobel Physicist Dennis Gabor wrote in 1963, “The future
cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a pretty neat concept in itself, made
all the more interesting when you know that the author specialized in the
science and technology of holography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a true example of vision and leadership, and a great example for
each of us. <i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>What futures might we envision for our associations and our careers
… and how can we make them a reality?</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.digitalsparkmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CHANGE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.digitalsparkmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CHANGE.png" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was approximately 100 years earlier when Charles Darwin
published On the Origin of Species, which provided a new way of looking at how
change occurs and futures are created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his theories, it is the combination of the external environment and
individual fitness for that environment that determines how evolution occurs. The
quote here, which reflects how notions of change are still relevant themes and
memes in our lives, is actually from the <a href="http://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/05/04/adapt/" target="_blank">1963 journal of the Southwestern Social Science Association</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>What CHANGES in the WORLD around us may require us to ADAPT?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Five Changes </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That May Require Associations to Adapt</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. New Business Models </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we look at the world around us, it is easy to see how
there are new ways for us to buy, sell, and receive professional services. Advances in technology and commerce allow us to stream
television shows; download music; self-publish books; advertise handmade goods
to a worldwide market; create our own custom-blended Scotch; solicit seed
funding for new entrepreneurial ventures; remotely diagnose illnesses of our
bodies and cars; and so much more. Consumer expectations have accordingly risen for on-demand,
personalized solutions priced in ways that align what they pay for with what
they want. Let’s be honest … that’s a far cry from the traditional
association business model in which the payment of an annual fee provides a
relatively standard “membership package” … not to mention educational
conferences offered once a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The changing world of business models merits that we
consider reinventing the way we package and sell our membership, programs, products and services to more directly connect cost
and value with stronger ways to think about ROI. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is some advice from <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahSladek" target="_blank">Sarah Sladek</a> in <a href="https://mystuff.asaecenter.org/ebusiness/publications/publicationproduct?id=106535" target="_blank">The End of Membership as We Know It</a></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Understand what your members want and need. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Develop benefits that solve the problems. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Assess the costs to provide those benefits and get rid of
anything that doesn’t provide a benefit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Put a membership model in place that both aligns with the
way your audience wants to pay and makes it easy for your offering to sell. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Digital Mobility </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Digital Mobility means more than just mobile technology It includes the devices we use to connect to the Internet (including the internet of things); the mobility of the people who live in a digitally-enabled, time-pressed world; the information processes that create an immersive experience in that world, which may include location-aware services, digital assistance, or an environment that adjusts to your presence (think <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITjsb22-EwQ" target="_blank">Minority Report</a>). All of these factors influence behavior, including an "always on" culture, in which some have become dependent on devices and digital networks to accomplish almost any task.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In thinking about the trend of digital mobility, here are a few pieces of advice: </span></div>
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</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Design with mobile in mind - Begin by thinking how you can use mobile technology to reinvent or improve an experience.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think mobile first - It's probably true that mobile may not be the most frequent way that your members currently engage with your association. But the rapid increase in mobile devices, comfort, and preference for mobile solutions is inevitable. Design for the future, not the past. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think “mobile” throughout - It's not enough to think about how to market an event on a mobile friendly website ... you also need to think about how you make it easy for people to engage during the event with their devices. Consider how mobile can be integrated into every step of the process ... you may not integrate it at every step, but the best way to have great ideas is to have lots of ideas from which to choose.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Video</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/55887/file-15819192-jpg/images/video_killed_the_radio_star_and_now_is_after_your_website.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/55887/file-15819192-jpg/images/video_killed_the_radio_star_and_now_is_after_your_website.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last week, as I was dropping my daughters off at school,
“Video Killed the Radio Star” came on our satellite radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My nine year old daughter’s face lit up and she exclaimed “This
is the BEST SONG EVER!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I thought was ironic since Frannie is a child of the iTunes and YouTube generation
- not the radio - MTV era.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the blog post from which I borrowed this
graphic sums it up well – Video Killed the Radio Star ... and it’s coming for
your website next.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Consider a <a href="http://bigideavideo.biz/7-reasons-video-fastest-growing-online-ad-format/" target="_blank">few facts</a>:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a video in Google’s index is 53 times more likely to appear
on first page search results </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">two-thirds of web video viewers are more likely to
purchase than counterparts who have not watched the video</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over half of consumers report that watching videos make them
more confident in making purchase decisions</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The quantity of video on the Internet has quintupled since
2010</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> One YouTube executive predicts that video will soon be 90% of Internet
traffic. (Okay, that one may be a little self-serving and biased … but what if the exec is even half right?) Here are a few ways to begin thinking about video for your association: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spend some time watching video to learn what does and doesn’t
work.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Experiment by highlighting others’ videos in your
communications.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If it’s right for your association, start small and fail
fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Reputation</b></span></span> </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.quotescover.com/wp-content/uploads/%C2%A0A-good-reputation-is-worthier__quotes-by-French-Proverb-67.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.quotescover.com/wp-content/uploads/%C2%A0A-good-reputation-is-worthier__quotes-by-French-Proverb-67.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is a French proverb: “A good reputation is worthier than a golden belt.” And no, this is not a rebrand of the old “golden
handcuff” that holds our members to us … it is a gift that helps our members improve their
appearance and value in the eyes of those around them. Reputation is all about providing new ways of helping to
build trust for members from their customers and partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In past, the predominant ways to build reputation included
familiar tactics - who you knew, where you lived, what school and church you attended
… and for businesses, national brand affiliation, Yellow Page ads,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and yes, Chamber of Commerce and association
membership. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Depending on the consumer, some of these avenues are still
significant parts of the buying or partnering decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the playing field has radically expanded - now, consumers can turn to Angie’s List, LinkedIN, Facebook, Klout
TripAdvisor and YELP to name a few. Just as an example here are a <a href="http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/yelp-statistics/" target="_blank">few facts about YELP</a>: YELP was founded 2004, and houses over 67 million reviews
which attract more than 139 million visitors per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It claims to direct over 400,000 contacts to
businesses every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How can you help your members build and enhance their
reputation?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For professional societies, how can you help your members
not only gain skills and experience, but also become connected to those with
employment or freelance opportunities?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> For trade associations, how can you help your members find
talented, skilled workers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you
help promote the value of services your members provide, and connect potential
buyers to your sellers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Networks</span></b></span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.inc.com/uploaded_files/image/575x270/feature-68-jim-collins-pan_17122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.inc.com/uploaded_files/image/575x270/feature-68-jim-collins-pan_17122.jpg" height="150" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In June 2012, I was in the airport headed to
speak on ASAE’s <a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/7measures.cfm" target="_blank">7 Measures of Success</a> at the Washington State Society of
Association Executives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little
apprehensive, since the book was then nearly 6 years old and a question on my mind was, “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Measures-Success-Remarkable-Associations-Others/dp/0880343419/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422333305&sr=1-1&keywords=7+Measures+of+Success" target="_blank">Are the 7 Measures still relevant today</a>?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine my surprise when I noticed
that Jim Collins was featured on the front of INC magazine at the newsstand, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">when I <a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/201206/bo-burlingham/jim-collins-exclusive-interview-be-great-now.html" target="_blank">read the article</a>, I found
Collins referencing his work with ASAE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">In the article, Collins' reflected that while bureaucratic </span>management models have served us well, he senses we are moving into a new age – the age of networks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Networks </span>are a collection of connections that come together in loosely held relationships not directly controlled by
traditional command and control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Information and requests are made of the network, and when there is
capacity in the network, the problem is
solved by the network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sound
unreliable?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think UBER - a collection of
people seeking rides who send a technologically enabled request out to a collection
of drivers willing to provide rides. As an UBER customer for about 9 months,
my experience has been that this informal network is far more reliable, far more
pleasant, and far more affordable than traditional alternatives. But your association is probably not going start and try to
unseat UBER. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>What are some other
options?</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Consider empowering your members to host problem-solving
programs on your behalf, like the <a href="http://ericlanke.blogspot.com/p/member-engagement.html" target="_blank">Wisconsin SAE’s “innovation circles”</a> program.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Look for ways to treat your membership as a network, sending
a “call for short-term help” rather than a once-a-year call for committee service.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Open conversations to understand how you might better
connect buyers and sellers as well as candidate and employers in your
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are alternatives to how
you have always done it?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Consider providing ways for members to “serve themselves”.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Few Thoughts on Fostering Innovation</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Each of us in this room has the capacity to be innovative, and
each of us has a role in innovation for our organizations. Innovation is not just about creating something entirely new - it is also about a continual commitment to improving and adapting our
processes to be more enjoyable, efficient, and effective. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is a leadership framework for innovation: </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> </span></b></span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://image.slidesharecdn.com/fsaetrendstowatch-150126211451-conversion-gate02/95/preparing-your-association-for-the-future-9-638.jpg?cb=1422328653" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://image.slidesharecdn.com/fsaetrendstowatch-150126211451-conversion-gate02/95/preparing-your-association-for-the-future-9-638.jpg?cb=1422328653" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Closing Comments</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In closing, I shared a short poem about a commitment to continuous improvement that has been quoted in my family for at least two generations:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.whatiworeblog.com/2013/February/Feb+05+-+Good+Better+Best/Good+Better+Best+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.whatiworeblog.com/2013/February/Feb+05+-+Good+Better+Best/Good+Better+Best+copy.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.thoseposters.com/emailPosters/poster6120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><i>I wish you each success </i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>in being your very best in 2015! </i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For a slide version of this post, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">as well as other association management presentations and thoughts, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">follow me at </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/gregmelia" target="_blank">http://www.slideshare.net/gregmelia</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/gmeliaCAE" target="_blank">@gmeliacae</a> </span></div>
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Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-21878325507190966222014-08-15T17:16:00.004-04:002014-08-15T17:16:44.373-04:00Great Advice from the Fabulous Richard Millington<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One thing I love is when marketing materials include fantastic content. Few people do that better than Richard Millington, an online community expert who runs <a href="http://www.feverbee.com/" target="_blank">Feverbee</a>. In support of his upcoming <span style="color: #606060; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/k-Kr3zqb5NNEVojd7dTztPqdXIfCzAQsIc3zqdXIfCzAQsI6zBUSzuX3VEVd7b33NJ6ZTQPhPtNN4ShlY-mwHqrZLxfUY01dXjvJY9_7w09KPJTy7ILZvAQPhOUqek-LsKCztfC4n7QnemKzp55mXzfaxVZicHs3jr9IsrKrKr01K-p-93_VKyv7OFcKHId8_O-jzJyKmfBoGire8cfmd7a11wseKwwyYgZNxZYxVEVd7bkA3DnzhOy-epd78XmLeshhgd7e_t4QsCO5mUmYKHrCW9yHbUVwQsCzC_8LL3Cn4iV5nPVqtJd-TMDYu00wEjjjVKz7aSEpU6CS7S6rCMLkMq80jkQg3fCy0blmrfS9Ew49Cy0gwmd40BlllK4FBzh0d6vxcQg0uHpEw49P-21Ewd52tPh1iiGN_Cy2sBG6yASUYrmOs0zFmzzuiI" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_self" title=""><span style="color: #6dc6dd;">FeverBee SPRINT</span></a> program, Richard shared the advice below. Fantastic for anyone looking to make the most out of in-person meetings. And, I am very sorry that I cannot make the October 29 to 30 program in San Francisco -- it looks truly stellar, as is most everything that Richard does. Hope some of you can make it!</span></span><span style="color: #606060; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #606060; line-height: 150%;">The Real Value of Events</span></strong><span style="color: #606060; line-height: 150%;"> - by Richard Millington<br />
<br />"The real power of events is bringing quality people together. This includes people who you can help and hire. People who can solve your
problems. People you might become friends with. At Lithium’s Linc event, I met Caty Kobe. She began working for us last week.
Too often, we waste the amazing value of events. I see people looking at their
phones during valuable free-discussion time.
At <a href="http://cp.mcafee.com/d/k-Kr3zqb5NNEVojd7dTztPqdXIfCzAQsIc3zqdXIfCzAQsI6zBUSzuX3VEVd7b33NJ6ZTQPhPtNN4ShlY-mwHqrZLxfUY01dXjvJY9_7w09KPJTy7ILZvAQPhOUqek-LsKCztfC4n7QnemKzp55mXzfaxVZicHs3jr9IsrKrKr01K-p-93_VKyv7OFcKHId8_O-jzJyKmfBoGire8cfmd7a11wseKwwyYgZNxZYxVEVd7bkA3DnzhOy-epd78XmLeshhgd7e_t4QsCO5mUmYKHrCW9yHbUVwQsCzC_8LL3Cn4iV5nPVqtJd-TMDYu00wEjjjVKz7aSEpU6CS7S6rCMLkMq80jkQg3fCy0blmrfS9Ew49Cy0gwmd40BlllK4FBzh0d6vxcQg0uHpEw49P-21Ewd52tPh1iiGN_Cy2sBG6yASUYrmOs0zFmzzuiI" style="word-wrap: break-word;" target="_self" title=""><span style="color: #6dc6dd;">FeverBee SPRINT</span></a>,
all the stars of our field are going to be in the same room. All the top
companies in our sector will be there. We’re going to do everything we can to create
the perfect social environment to meet all of them. However, we also want you to help yourselves.</span>We know there many introverts among you. We’ve
put together a few tips that have helped us over the years. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #606060; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br />
<strong>20 Tips For Being
Popular At Events</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>1)
Research the attendees beforehand</strong>. Make a list of who you
want to meet and what you want to ask them.<br />
<br />
<strong>2)
E-mail the top 10 people you want to meet in advance</strong>. Ask
them for coffee before you meet up. If any are local, arrange to meet at the
airport, share cabs, hotels, etc...<br />
<br />
<strong>3)
Be the organizer</strong>. Be the person that brings the fun.
Organize a small, exclusive, pre-event meetup, book an airbnb house with 6
rooms, and let 5 others join you. Host a small after party at yours (please
don’t go crazy). Suggest shared travel. Invite 5 people to join you for a lunch
group. Go outside the venue to have lunch with a few others.<br />
<br />
<strong>4)
Say something remarkable within the first 30 seconds</strong>. We
all know the elevator pitch. The goal isn’t to sell the product, the goal is to
intrigue the person enough to continue the discussion. How do you answer the
“what do you do” question? I used to say “we help companies build communities”.
Yawn.<br />
<br />
Try different lines…for a year I would say “we figured out a specific social
science principle to ensure every community reaches critical mass”…you can
guess what their next question is right? Focus on the vision with an
interesting twist, not the functional aspect of what you do.<br />
<br />
<strong>5)
Tell stories</strong>. Have a few funny/interesting stories about
your work you can share. Make sure it has a beginning, middle, and an end. Get
comfortable telling the same few stories about your work. Don’t give facts,
give interesting examples. Put together your best stories that you can drop
into a discussion.<br />
<br />
<strong>6)
Know your strengths</strong>. Be clear about how you can help
people you meet at an event. Don’t be shy about saying what you’re good at, but
counter-balance this with the next point.<br />
<br />
<strong>7)
Know your weaknesses</strong>. Be clear about what you need help
with. People want to help you. You need to know what you want help with. Be
specific.<br />
<br />
<strong>8)
Know who/what you’re looking for</strong>. Similar to the above,
if you met someone you want to work for, recruit, or interact with at some
point, how would you know? What qualities would they have? Most of the
people we’ve hired are those we’ve previously met at an event.<br />
<br />
<strong>9)
Introduce yourself</strong>. Get comfortable turning to the person
next to you and say “<em>Hi
I’m ….</em>”. if you do this 100 times, you’ll never get a bad
reaction. Follow a 3-second rule. Do it within the first 3 seconds of sitting
down.<br />
<br />
<strong>10)
Join existing groups</strong>. I go up to existing groups and say
“<em>mind if I join you, I’m
Rich</em>”. I shake hands with everyone, let the discussions continue,
then join in with my opinion.<br />
<br />
<strong>11)
Set a deadline</strong>. I’m told this advice originates from
pickup literature. If you’re keen to speak to a star within the sector, let
them know you only want to speak to them for 2/3 minutes. This eases the fear
that they will be stuck in one discussion for hours.<br />
<br />
<strong>12)
Speak slower and watch your upward inflection (or high-rising terminal)</strong>.
Slow your speech down a little. You will sound more authoritative. Unless it’s
a question, don’t let your last word end on a higher pitch. This is perceived
as portraying insecurities.<br />
<br />
<strong>13)
Ask the golden question</strong>. If you’re looking for work or
clients, get used to asking “<em>So
what brings you here?</em>”<br />
<br />
<strong>14)
Leave others before they leave you</strong>. Or, put more simply,
don’t be clingy. If someone moves away and you follow them without being
invited, you’re being clingy. Don’t panic, we’ve all done it.<br />
<br />
Far better to end the discussion at a high point and find someone else you can
meet. You will circle back round later. If you have a pause in the discussion
and can’t think what to say next, it’s time to meet other amazing people.<br />
<br />
<strong>15)
End discussions politely</strong>. If you want to end a
discussion, offer your business card and then say you’re going to circulate the
room a little. We can all understand this.<br />
<br />
<strong>16)
Book the next step</strong>. If you want to continue the
discussion. Get your phone, load up your calendar, and ask them when they’re
free. Arrange a meeting right there. This is powerful to do in person.<br />
<br />
<strong>17)
Chase up furiously</strong>. Don’t chase up to keep in touch,
chase up with a few practical ideas or a new thought to add to your discussion.
Recommend a book or an update on what you discussed. Suggest a time to do
something fun.<br />
<br />
<strong>18)
Use the (sales)force (app)</strong>. This is a little
controversial, but use your phone’s salesforce app to keep an update of your
interactions. Don’t update it on the networking floor, that makes you seem like
the person who is too shy to go talk to people. I do my updates out of
sight.<br />
<br />
<strong>19)
Focus on fun, not done</strong>. Don’t worry so much about getting
stuff done. We’ll cover that in our workshop sessions. Focus on having fun
discussions with the people you meet. Suggest a few ideas.<br />
<br />
<strong>20) Go
easy on the unsolicited advice</strong>. While you're just trying to be
helpful, unsolicited advice can sometimes be irritating. If people don't want your
advice, don't give any. Better yet, you can ask “<em>mind if I give you some
unsolicited advice?</em>”"<br />
</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-27779870841505526012013-03-11T13:42:00.002-04:002013-03-11T13:47:25.088-04:00Big Issues for Associations and AMCsLast month I had the pleasure of participating in a panel of industry leaders at the <a href="http://www.amcinstitute.org/?page=2013AnnualMeeting" target="_blank">Winter Conference</a> for the Association Management Company trade association, <a href="http://www.amcinstitute.org/?page=About_Us" target="_blank">AMC Institute</a>. It was great to help celebrate their 50th Anniversary at the fabulous <a href="http://www.loewshotels.com/Don-CeSar-Hotel" target="_blank">Loews Don CeSar Hotel</a> in beautiful <a href="http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/" target="_blank">St. Pete's Beach, Florida</a>. <a href="http://www.conventionnewstv.com/" target="_blank">Convention News Television</a> interviewed me just after the panel. Here it is online - pretty happy with how the one take approach turned out!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid2165779063001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAFG21k4~,pCaCbGmDVMaHwRVAec5bi3Y7oRFHPSCY&bclid=2163127926001&bctid=2174044088001" target="_blank">One on One with Greg Melia at AMC Institute</a>Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-12682005544423317652013-02-13T06:27:00.000-05:002013-02-20T08:50:03.867-05:00How should associations be preparing for the future?
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Let’s recap this series: First, I explored how the <a href="http://capacitytochange.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-is-purpose-of-membership-anyway.html">purpose
of an association</a> is to bring together contributions from members to
accomplish something for those same individuals that would be more difficult to
do on their own. Second, I explored how a number of <a href="http://capacitytochange.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-world-she-is-changing-trends_10.html">trends
are changing the external environment</a> in which associations operate.
Finally, here are a few practical suggestions for how your association can
embrace these trends and avoid becoming obsolete:</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Get familiar with the external trends
that may make your current association value proposition irrelevant.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></h2>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>I’ve outlined four megatrends in a
previous post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are likely
more that are specific to the industry or profession your association
serves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good place to start is
the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ <a href="http://www.bls.gov/iag/home.htm">Industry
at a Glance</a> and <a href="http://www.bls.gov/ooh/">Occupational Outlook</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For state associations, check with your
state government on economic trends and statistics in your area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/AboutUs/Index.cfm?navItemNumber=51733">ASAE</a>,
the professional association for the association community (and, in the
interest of full disclosure, my <a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/Profile/CommunityCloseUp.cfm?ExternalID=672709">employer</a>)
also produces a wide range of <a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/Shop/results.cfm?Browse=asaeProductCategory%3A%22Benchmarking%20%26%20Research%22">research
and trend reports</a>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Review your portfolio to assess which
of your offerings help potential members do things easier.</b> </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Better yet, have someone outside your membership
conduct this review and determine if your solution is enough to convince her
or him to join. If an offering doesn’t pass muster, either re-engineer it
or <i>seriously</i> consider dropping
it.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Closely consider the needs of your target
market to determine the greatest challenges that you can help them
overcome.</b> </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">What can the
collective resources of your association do for members that individual
members cannot do for themselves?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>How can you help employees and employers in the changing
employment environment (<i>job tenure
decreasing, job mobility increasing, and dual-earner households increasing</i>)?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>How can you help members’ organizations better
compete in the new global marketplace?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>How can you help members manage time, their most
irreplaceable commodity? </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Make it easy for members to get
immediate quality answers and assistance.</b> </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"> The Ritz-Carlton famously instructed
employees to <a href="http://corporate.ritzcarlton.com/en/About/GoldStandards.htm#steps">anticipate
guest needs</a> such that the Ritz-Carlton experience “<a href="http://lfp-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/ritz-credo-card.jpg">fulfills
even unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests</a>.” Your association must do the same – meet
the needs which members tell you about, and lead your members by preparing
them to solve challenges proactively before they become <b>PROBLEMS</b>. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Prepare for the future.</b> </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Explore the business and societal trends
changing the external environment in which your members operate. Begin to develop capacities in new areas
to redirect and serve future needs.
(<i>An area I plan to blog about
in the near future. Would love your
ideas on this too!</i>) </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Keep members informed of the value you
provided to them</b>.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></h2>
<a name='more'></a>We live in an
information-laden world with ferocious competition for attention and
resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are each near
constantly sold to by advertising, social media and other feedback
messages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retailers feature
packages touting <a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4129e8AYcBL._SL500_SS500_.jpg">increases
in product sizes</a>, <a href="http://www.parc.chartreuse.net/products/Detail/7/ShelfTalkers_1236100159.jpg">sales</a>,
health benefits, <a href="http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/Store/pc/images/EMimages/ns_mid_111910aft.jpg">product
ratings</a>, and at the checkout, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOyIT_UUjfu_WwKsPn0FIpI3NarAq-aQWZXyDvGTeWTnABtS8Y87isFGhqSrJ32eUq7eSfd4Re-IvvsZgNW6OZ_xzlbrYdb_krE4LCQbfvO9wRazXpHT4K41iKQA19x4QHYvWWpGuTk8/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG">a
summary of how much you have saved</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Conduct a Google search and you will receive statistics on the
number of results and the time it took to compile those results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Why should I become a U.S.
citizen" returns <a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbo=d&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GPCK_en&noj=1&site=webhp&source=hp&q=%22Why+should+I+become+a+U.S.+citizen%22&oq=%22Why+should+I+become+a+U.S.+citizen%22&gs_l=hp.3..0i30.32370.32370.0.33065.1.1.0.0.">13,500
results</a> on Google in .36 seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Search for “spatula” on
Amazon.com and you’ll not only learn which spatula is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-570-1121-3-Piece-Silicone-Spatula/dp/B000M8YMEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360719706&sr=8-1&keywords=spatula">best
seller</a>, but you can also sort the results by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-CNC-1-CW1-Modular-Spatula-Utensil/dp/B004NSUCUI/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1360719777&sr=1-3&keywords=spatula">price</a>
and average customer <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st?keywords=spatula&qid=1360719841&rh=n%3A1055398%2Cn%3A!1063498%2Cn%3A284507%2Ck%3Aspatula&sort=reviewrank_authority">rating</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Associations not only need to ensure
that we are providing value to our members, we also need to ensure that
they are communicating the value we provide everyday to our members to
make their lives easier or more fulfilling — a tall order indeed!</li>
</ul>
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In closing, I think the future for associations is
bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Individuals pressed for time can
benefit greatly from association assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Associations can help companies understand new market opportunities and
help them be successful in these extended areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Associations can help companies and individuals
alike to adapt faster in a world in which job and career changes are increasingly
common. But associations cannot rely on old programs, products, and services
based on the needs of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must
prepare ourselves and our members for the new realities of the external
environment in which we operate and to boldly move into the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">YOU</i></b> add to help our
shared association community prepare ourselves and our members for these new
challenges?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-80761212683005803882013-02-10T17:36:00.002-05:002013-02-10T17:36:34.756-05:00The world, she is a changing: Trends associations should be watching<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://capacitytochange.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-is-purpose-of-membership-anyway.html">Previously</a><span style="color: black;">, I explored how associations bring together contributions
from members to accomplish something that would be difficult to accomplish
individually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on the positive
receptions from association thinkers like </span><a href="http://www.ideaarchitects.org/">Jeffrey Cufaude</a><span style="color: black;">, </span><a href="http://www.associationsubcultureblog.com/">Shelly
Alcorn</a><span style="color: black;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://cynthiadamour.com/about/">Cynthia D’Amour</a><span style="color: black;">, </span><a href="http://www.membershipmarketing.blogspot.com/">Tony Rossell</a><span style="color: black;">, and </span><a href="http://highcontext.com/">David Gammel</a><span style="color: black;"> I think there may be something to the idea that the value
provided by associations is under fire because the world in which associations
operate is changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what are some of
those changes in the external world that may be making association
participation less necessary? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Internet and mobile technology
give unprecedented access to knowledge.</span> </b>The rise and <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.zakon.org/robert/internet/timeline/#Growth">growth of the
Internet</a></span>, which was only commercialized in the mid-1990s, is <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juE07oKi_go">astounding</a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, individuals can find and do
almost anything easier, faster, and cheaper than they could in 1995 - <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resources/CareerResources.aspx?sc_cmp2=JS_Nav_AdvRes">career
advice</a></span>, <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.crn.com/blogs-op-ed/the-channel-wire/214502376/microsoft-offers-free-tech-training-to-millions.htm">technical
training</a></span>, <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/">networking connections</a></span>, <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.opencongress.org/">legislative
tracking</a></span> and <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://front.moveon.org/">responsive</a></span> <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/">advocacy</a></span>,
competitive product pricing, vendor selection, buying advice, and nearly
limitless content in every category. These same activities were the bread
and butter of associations in the mid-90s – and sadly, many associations
still see these as their <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://actonline.org/about-us/different/">exclusive domain</a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worth of these activities have not
changed – people still want them all – but changes in the external
environment mean that these very same activities may no longer be “valued
benefits” if individuals can achieve similar results elsewhere easily and
affordably without an association. </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">The nature of employment has
changed.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span> </span></b>Most associations
serve employees directly or assist company members with employee-related
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the fact is, the <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2995">nature
of employment</a></span> is changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Employment is <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/4/7/2/pages104723/p104723-1.php">less
stable</a></span>, less enduring, and, in some cases, simply <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/press/PressPDF_4719_1359850716.pdf">less</a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/02/01/23-34Friedberg.pdf">Research</a></span>
has shown that the rise of 401(k) plans, which more than quintupled during
the 80s and 90s, correlates with <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.nbizmag.com/magarticles/jobtenureand401k.pdf">increased
job mobility,</a></span> decreased tenure, and decreased investment in
employee training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the same
period, <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2012/05/chart-of-the-day-us-manufacturing-unemployment-1960-2012.html">manufacturing
jobs have declined</a></span>, and <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/04/19/159555/us-corporations-outsourced-americans/?mobile=nc">outsourcing
of jobs</a></span> overseas, including white collar service jobs, has
risen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The overall US <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.prb.org/pdf08/63.2uslabor.pdf">labor
force has slowed in growth</a></span>, and new models such as outlined in
Dan Pink’s <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/33851/free-agent-nation">Free Agent
Nation</a></span> have emerged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many observers say that there has also been an increase in the <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.careerkey.org/asp/career-options/career-change.html">frequency
of career changes</a></span>, but the reality is that <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.bls.gov/nls/nlsfaqs.htm#anch43">little to no data has
been collected on career changes</a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[I think this represents huge assumptive
blinders – consider these findings: <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/business/smallbusiness/01webcareers.html?_r=0">an
NYU study which found only 28% of professionals expected a lifelong career
in their field</a></span>; <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/therapy-matters/201105/the-depressed-lawyer">7
out of 10 lawyers would change careers if the opportunity arose</a></span>;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/schools-out">45% of teachers leave the
profession within five years</a></span>]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing is certain, though, employment ─
an external environment that affects associations ─ has changed
dramatically, yet, most of our associations still operate under the same
approach as 20 years ago. </li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The commercial landscape has changed.</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span>Nearly every association is also
directly impacted by the economic condition of its members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the reality is that the external
operating environment is wreaking havoc on many of those members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rise of the Internet has facilitated
interstate and international commerce in ways that challenge traditional
business operating environments (such as <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.fedex.com/">location</a></span>, <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.bigcommerce.com/?ga_campaign=%28roi%29+drop+shipping&ga_adgroup=dropship+ebay&ga_keyword=dropship%20for%20ebay&ga_creative=e&gclid=CJ7unLa4qLUCFUid4AodDGMA5w">fulfillment</a></span>,
<span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.designcrowd.com/crowdsourcing?gclid=CILgnY65qLUCFVCd4AoduhIAQA">design</a></span>,
even <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.taskrabbit.com/">staffing</a></span>)
and often create a race toward the lowest possible price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consumer access to <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.truecar.com/">increased
amounts of information</a></span> puts new pressures on profit margins and
operating processes, as well as providing consumers with a <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.angieslist.com/">powerful
collection of feedback from other customers</a></span> that influence
buying decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new normal is
an intensely competitive, open environment, often accompanied by with less
generous profit margins. </li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Competition for resources has
increased.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Regardless of its
focus, associations are impacted by the people who comprise its
membership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the external
environment of those members is changing too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the 1990s, the number of <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/livelyhood/workingfamily/familytrends.html">dual-earner
households broke the 50% barrier</a></span>, making two working parents
the predominate model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a
surprise that in 1995, a Cornell research study found that more than half
of Americans reported that they <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/herman/reports/futurework/conference/families/families.pdf">“‘almost
never’ have time on their hands.”</a></span> More recently, a Harris
Interactive poll reported that <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/Harris-Interactive-Poll-Research-Time-and-Leisure-2008-12.pdf">leisure
hit an all-time low</a></span>, decreasing 20% from the previous year and
a total of 10 hours since tracking began in 1973.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if that were not enough, household
debt, which has risen slowly over a long period, <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/debt/review.pdf">doubled between
2000 and 2007</a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
members ─ and potential members ─ have less <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.hoornaert.net/files/images/Cartoon_Larson_Einstein_1_0.gif">time</a></span>,
less <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/images/2012/10/29/p600/121029_daily-cartoon-silver_p600.jpg">control</a></span>
of their schedules, and increased <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://netrightdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/National-Debt-Cartoon.jpg">financial
commitments</a></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">What are your reactions to these
statistics?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other significant
external trends do you see that challenge the value that associations provide?
Join me in my next post to see my thoughts on what associations should be doing
to prepare for the future. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-5849286046823278942013-02-07T17:17:00.001-05:002013-02-07T17:17:22.473-05:00What is the purpose of membership anyway?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The fabulous Shelly Alcorn, CAE is "<a href="http://www.associationsubcultureblog.com/2013/02/membership-is-value-of-membership.html"><span style="color: blue;">SICK
AND TIRED of the questions about ‘what is the value of membership</span></a>.’" I
loved her post, most of all her observation that <span style="color: black;">you
can find the roots of modern associations in the associating that happened in the
symposiums of Ancient Greece, guilds in Medieval Europe, and salons of the
Renaissance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shelly points out that
associating is rooted in the universal human need for connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d add that associating also reflects a
human need for individuals to come together to accomplish things they cannot do
easily for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Associating” bodies whether a social club,
fraternal organization, neighborhood, workers union, sports team, trade
association, professional society, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a>,
credit union, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/"><span style="color: blue;">LinkedIn</span></a>, or <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Kickstarter</span></a> – whether formal, enduring
structures or short-term collaborations – all have a cost of
participation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be giving of your
time; your attention; your talents; a commitment to your fellow members or
certain ideals; or giving up the freedom of choosing the color to paint your
house, conceding to be advertised to; and yes, in many cases, money – whether
called membership dues, participation fees, donations, or “financially backing
a project.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether the cost of participation
is worthwhile depends on the perceived value of the return on that
investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is, does participation
provide a result that is 1) desired and 2) worth the effort when compared to
the alternative of achieving a similar outcome another way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">What is frustrating about many
conversations about the “value of membership” is that they often devolve into
“Is our price point still relevant for the programs, products and services we
offer?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is most challenging in my
mind is that these conversations tend to focus on the cost and avenues of
participation, and fail to recognize what may be a bigger challenge:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if associations are designed to help
individuals accomplish things they cannot do easily for themselves, we need to
think long and hard about the fact that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>it
is not as hard to do many things for yourself as it used to be.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Two quick examples:</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">AAA:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> Growing
up, we used to take a fair number of family vacations by <a href="http://www.thestreetpeep.com/2011/11/1976-plymouth-volare-wagon.html"><span style="color: blue;">car</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And critical to that was a membership in the <a href="http://midatlantic.aaa.com/About"><span style="color: blue;">American Automobile Association</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did AAA give us assurance that we
could get a tow if we needed one, it also got us the best available rates on
hotels, and made custom highlighted <a href="http://yearofadventure.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/ode-to-my-triptik/"><span style="color: blue;">TripTiks</span></a>®,
customized step-by-step maps to navigate our trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 1970’s, all three of these were
extreme value adds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, to this
day, I remain a member of AAA because they still have the best hotel rates, and
they will take care of tracking down an available tow truck, making a
potentially stressful time a little <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">less</i>
stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there may very well come
a time when I decide that paying $70 or more per year for these savings of
convenience and hotel rooms is simply not worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s not because of AAA … it’s because
smartphones and the Internet have made it easy for me to find a <a href="http://www.hotwire.com/hotel/index.jsp"><span style="color: blue;">good price on a hotel</span></a>, <a href="http://www.allstate.com/mobile/good-hands-roadside-assistance.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">roadside
assistance</span></a>, and customized <a href="http://www.mapquest.com/"><span style="color: blue;">travel
directions</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #ff6600;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Guilds:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> Guilds
dominated the career pathway, standards of practice, and access to markets in
much of Medieval Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To become a
practicing craftsman, individuals typically had to endure years of
apprenticeship and demonstrate proficiency in techniques determined by the
appropriate guild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, the guilds single-handedly
controlled the pathway to being a successful craftsman, which was difficult (if
not impossible) without participation in the appropriate guild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite what seems like the ultimate “golden handcuff”
benefit, the guild model failed … not because of the change in its value
proposition of helping interested novices become skilled craftspersons, but
because the external world changed ─ the rise of standardized manufacturing
techniques undermined their proposition and shifts in social attitudes about free
market economics changed the social acceptance of guilds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">In my next two posts, I’ll build
on this idea to look at external trends impacting associations and provide a
few thoughts on what you and your association should do to ensure your
continued viability. And I would love to hear your feedback and add your
examples of how the changing world has impacted specific associations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-35452915663396897532012-05-23T20:23:00.001-04:002012-05-23T20:23:14.719-04:002012 Creative Experts Exchange & StorifyLast week, I attended a conference on creativity organized by <a href="http://www.buffalostate.edu/creativity/" target="_blank">The International Center For Studies In Creativity at Buffalo State</a>. It was a great experience! I captured most of my notes using Twitter, and have used <a href="http://storify.com/" target="_blank">Storify</a> to create conference summaries. I invite you to learn more about this cool tool and cool conference through the posts:<br />
<br />
<h3 class="s-title" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://storify.com/gmeliaCAE/2012-creative-experts-exchange" target="_blank">2012 Creative Experts Exchange Opening Ceremony</a></h3>
<h3 class="s-title" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://storify.com/gmeliaCAE/2012-creative-experts-exchange-day-1" target="_blank">2012 Creativity Experts Exchange Day 1</a></h3>
<h3 class="s-title" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://storify.com/gmeliaCAE/2012-creative-experts-exchange-day-3" target="_blank">2012 Creative Experts Exchange Day 2</a></h3>
<h3 class="s-title" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://storify.com/gmeliaCAE/2012-creative-experts-exchange-day-3-4" target="_blank">2012 Creative Experts Exchange Day 3</a></h3>
<h3 class="s-title">
</h3>
<h3 class="s-title">
Enjoy! </h3>
<h3 class="s-title">
</h3>
<h3 class="s-title">
</h3>Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-15977525607555048032011-07-27T22:38:00.004-04:002011-07-28T00:25:54.101-04:00Would you like the capacity to change your association's membership model?If you work for an association or association management company, chances are that you will soon be asked to consider ways to evolve your association's membership model -- that is assuming that you aren't already knee-deep in that exploration. And chances are this will be your first time handling this type of project. That's why I am thrilled to be co-facilitating a three-hour session with Julie Koch, CAE of the Produce Marketing Association on setting a course to reinvent your association's membership model at this year's <a href="http://www.asaeannualmeeting.org/">ASAE Annual Meeting</a>.<br /><br />During the session, you'll get to hear from top experts in association membership including:<br />Sue Bowman of <a href="http://www.thehaefergroup.com/">The Haefer Group</a>; <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/dondea"><br />Don Dea</a> of <a href="http://www.fusionproductions.com/about/index.cfm">Fusion Productions</a><br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/sherijacobs">Sheri Jacobs, CAE</a> of <a href="http://www.avenuemgroup.com/">Avenue M Group</a><br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahsladek">Sarah Sladek</a>, of <a href="http://xyzuniversity.com/">XYZ University</a> and author of The End of Membership As We Know It<br /><br />I am really excited about the session design: it is built so that you'll walk away with a core outline of the steps that YOU should take to re-assess YOUR Association's membership model. Plus, you'll have the chance to spend small group time with these leading consultants to get advice specific to your individual needs.<br /><br />If you're already planning to be at #ASAE11, I hope you'll join us for "Chart the Course for Your Association’s Future Membership Model" on Monday, August 8 at 1:30 in Room 223. If this sounds interesting but you hadn't yet decided to attend, <a href="http://www.asaeannualmeeting.org/registration_information.cfm">register today</a> -- I don't think you'll be able to find another opportunity to be led through this type of program with this number of association membership experts.Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-61357787237833838392011-03-19T13:34:00.004-04:002011-05-06T20:44:13.369-04:00Nonprofit associations: institutionalized organizations or living, dynamic organisms?<span style="font-family:arial;">Over at the excellent </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://jeffhurtblog.com/2011/03/18/your-association-living-organism/">Midcourse Corrections</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> blog, Jeff Hurt asks, "Nonprofit associations: institutionalized organizations or living, dynamic organisms?" Framed as a dichotomy between viewing organizations as mechanical or organic in nature, I am torn.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">In many ways, associations ARE based on a model that is more mechanical - for example, the regular replacement of volunteer leaders through term rotations (hopefully your association accomplishes this more like an oil change than an organ replacement!)</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">To me, this type of view is neither good nor bad - it simply is a reflection of reality. But the mechanical model fails in many others - not the least of which is the lack of recognition that member engagement will have a major impact on the functioning of the association (less like the mechanical view that ingredients make soup regardless of the quality of ingredients, and more like a view that the nutrition of the ingredients will have an impact on the long-term viability of the soup making organization.)</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">In many other ways, associations ARE better conceived as living organisms. Living organisms are impacted by their external environment in a way that mechanical systems are not - for example, while a rainstorm is unlikely to have an impact on the production level of an assembly line, public opinion can very much influence how an association approaches an issue.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> But the organic view also has its shortcomings - for example, an organism can rarely change some of its most essential life elements (such as respiration for human beings) whereas an association may radically shift its business model from membership dues to a different sustaining model. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">In the end, I’d support the view that </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >neither view</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> is the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >BEST</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> way to view associations. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">So what instead?</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I’m actually rather partial to </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory">Systems Theory</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">First introduced by Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Systems Theory outlines a broader set of principles that theorize how both mechanical and organic systems operate.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">In Systems Theory, mechanical systems are generally “closed systems”, which are more predefined, less complex and less subject to outside influence. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Organic systems are “</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://faculty.babson.edu/krollag/org_site/encyclop/open_system.html">open systems</a><span style="font-family:arial;">”, constantly evolving, highly complex and always viewed in the context of their operating environment.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">But Systems Theory also adds additional thinking lenses to the conversation that I think are important: for example, open systems theory suggests that the boundaries of an organization – what is (or is not) a part of an organization is constantly open to change.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Unlike an organism which typically is defined by a “body”, “colony” or similar defined unit, this allows a much more fluid and inclusive way of thinking that I believe better fits an association which may extend its reach at various time through creating conversations beyond its formal boundaries, establishing temporary strategic alliances, or suspending activity in a particular element of its plan of work while maintaining the capacity to reactivate that element at a later time. </span> <span style=""> </span><br /> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">For more about Systems Theory, check out the nice quick overview on <a href="http://www.enotes.com/management-encyclopedia/open-closed-systems">enotes.com</a>.<span style=""> </span>A few more links of interest include 1) a discussion of <a href="http://epress.anu.edu.au/info_systems/mobile_devices/ch11s02.html">closed system approaches to organization theory</a>, 2) discussions around<a href="http://www.tech-seeker.com/blog/ipad-2-vs-the-android-tablets-will-history-repeat-itself/"> iPad and Android as open and closed systems</a> and 3) one opinion that <a href="http://blogs.verisign.com/idefense/2010/07/open-vs-closed-systems---why-the-ipad-may-save-us-all.html">iPad's closed system approach may at least one great advantage</a>. <br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;">What are your thoughts?</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><br /><br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-75479208689851915612011-03-15T19:07:00.000-04:002011-03-15T19:41:16.079-04:00Where does diversity come from?Attended an excellent session today at ASAE's Great Ideas conference. The session, led by @joegerstandt, was titled "Diversity + Inclusion = Innovation." A few key takeaways: <br /><br />1) Diversity is not within people -it is the relationship between people. (think about that the next time you are told that a diverse candidate is coming in for an interview.)<br /><br />2) Think about who you regularly talk with, work with, and socialize with. Is the group diverse? Are you sure to listen to all perspectives? How might these folks be considered your personal board of directors?<br /><br />3) More diverse teams build better solutions, often outperforming "smart" teams.<br /><br />4) Seek input from all parts of your organization, not just your immediate team.<br /><br />Great session. I wonder how the restaurant at the Denver Airport that posted this cool diagram of their employees homelands leverage the power inherent in the diversity of their team? <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/Greg.Melia.CAE/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXjg8GvmJbW3QE#5584450250616578578'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenggI4L1DySuupvCIM9JE46sSS3sG0AAzltywEX1b_BWW8_NPcgtEjCsolECi3gprKNijcn0ieBCpmS324wYwJKKvEheYQXvgo5WLWCpvutnHCiO-bmfmILPiB6IB8dJ5VU0ACqw6Rb-w/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress lite from my iPhone<br /><br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-84165172622988833262011-02-28T22:39:00.001-05:002011-02-28T22:39:44.219-05:00My Brothers and II had a great visit today with the Iowa Society of Association Executives. Many great conversations during the day, but partcularly enjoyed a conversation at lunch with the CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. Among other topics, we discussed the great relationship between the National Restaurant Association<br />and the state restaurant associations. Two key take-aways from the conversation:<br /><br />1) NRA involved state associations in its strategic planning process as key players at the table.<br /><br />2) Staff leaders of the NRA and the independent council of state restaurant execs have quarterly conference calls to keep lines of communications open.<br /><br />Together, these form a relationship that allows the organizations to work in concert when needed - while also allowing each the freedom to act with independence and autonomy at other times. Makes me think of a middle eastern saying I read during graduate studies:<br /><br />Me against my brothers. <br />My brothers and I against my cousins.<br />My cousins and I against the world.<br /><br />Change sometimes is best achieved through coalitions. Since you never know whom might be the best ally to overcome a future challenge, it's a smart idea to build the capacity to form alliances with even the most unlikely of partners. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress lite from my iPhone<br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-52854597312151752392010-07-02T21:13:00.003-04:002010-07-02T21:38:15.080-04:00The discipline of fieldwork<a href="http://www.baileyworkplay.com/about/">Chris Bailey</a> has a great post about the importance of listening to really determine what a customer wants. Drawing on his <a href="http://www.unt.edu/pais/grad/gapan.htm">Business Anthropology</a> studies, Chris offers five simple ways to listen like an anthropologist:<br /><ol><li>Shut up.</li><li>Be naive.</li><li>Get curious.</li><li>Show me.</li><li>Record it.</li></ol><br />Chris does a great job expounding on each of these, and I encourage you to read his <a href="http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2010/06/listening-to-what-isnt-said/">full post</a>.<br /><br />In addition to what Chris has outlined, I'd also add two additional observational strategies that are best used in tandem.<br /><br />First, it is important to review what <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronis%C5%82aw_Malinowski">Bronislaw Malinowski</a> referred to as the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">corpus inscriptum</span> - the writings about a topic, especially the formal rules or instructions. In our modern world, this might include what people say about an organization, program, product or service in social or traditional media, or in their correspondence to your organization. But <span style="font-style: italic;">corpus inscriptum</span> can be misleading because the reality is that people don't always accurately report what they actually do.<br /><br />So, Malinowski adds that you must <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">observe the imponderabilia of everyday life</span>. In short, watch what people actually do. Whether this takes the form of being a "participant observer" among your customers, or crunching the numbers to see their activities, the fact is that what people actually do is a far more accurate reflection than what they say they do.<br /><br />Thanks Chris for a great post -- and for making me think about how my own graduate studies in social anthropology relate to today.Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-40825279454903225182010-06-22T22:01:00.001-04:002010-06-22T22:01:58.115-04:00Commercial wisdomSports have provided some of the greatest demonstrations of leadership - from the stirring teamwork in Remember the Titans to the words of wisdom of the legendary John Wooden; from the perfection of Don Shula's 1972 Dolphins, to the amazing comeback of the 2004 Red Sox. But my most recent leadership takeaway is from a Washington Nationals commercial. In the spot, a character talks about the experience of a game .. Rising from a seat to cheer, sinking into it when gripped by frustration. It wraps up with a great summary: passion, loyalty and shared purpose: that's community. <br /><br />A spot on leadership lesson. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress lite from my iPhone<br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-26273047552447638802010-05-03T20:44:00.000-04:002010-05-03T20:45:02.920-04:00Good ideas are not enoughTonight I arrived to the Pentagon Metro station at 8:20, and headed up to catch a bus home. I don't usually take the bus, and was pleased to see that the new "next bus" notification system is now working. Well, sort of. I needed to catch the 16A, and the display read 16A ... Next bus, 73 minutes. I decided to check the printed schedule, and low and behold, the bus was due at 8:30. While I didn't know whether that bus had come and gone early, I decided to wait a few minutes before investigating other options. Luckily, the bus pulled up right on time, and departed promptly.<br /><br />A notification system informing bus riders of the next bus is a really nice feature. However, it is entirely useless if when implemented it is unreliable. Having an idea for changeis not enough ... Implementation is at least as important.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress lite from my iPhone<br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-33376763529028689302010-04-14T09:49:00.003-04:002010-04-14T10:32:53.290-04:00Sometimes complicated challenges have simple solutionsWhile change always involves some degree of individual adaptation, organizational change cannot be accomplished by a lone individual. Even the most visionary, influential, creative or powerful individual will need to effect change in others to transform an organization. <br /><br />In most organizations, the change process will involve a series of conversations, and that is where things can often get complicated. Personal preferences, status differentials, organizational history and individual experiences all play a role in how such conversations unfold. Sometimes what is needed is a way to manage these influences in a manner that empowers individual participants and the group as a whole to support a productive conversation. <br /><br />When resources allow, the stakes are high or the issues are complicated, a professional facilitator is often retained. But it is also likely that you may find yourself having to play the role of facilitator at some point. Here is an an interesting<a href="http://analytical-mind.com/2009/08/03/facilitation-cards/"> facilitation card set</a> that Martin Proulx uses in challenging meetings to help maintain some control so that everyone can have a chance to contribute and meeting ground rules can be maintained. What a neat idea for creating agency for a more effective conversation in meeting participants!Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-31145269847405551712010-01-20T01:27:00.001-05:002010-01-20T01:27:08.264-05:00Make a Personal ConnectionI witnessed the power of making a personal connection on my flight to San Francisco. I was seated near a couple from Russia who spoke little English. This created some tension during boarding. A flight attendent became increasingly frustrated, which showed on her face and body language. Nearby passengers became increasingly tense as well.<br /><br /><br />Fortunately, another United flight attendent stepped in, and using a mix of German and pantomime, learned that the couple were Russian tourists, with a background in the Russian army. Once that connection was established, the necessary admonitions about storing bags, etc were navigated with additional miming and smiles. Nearby passengers were amused as the flight attendent asked if he could join the Russians' vacation. <br /><br />The power of a personal connection is strong indeed - a key take-away I learned from my early career in hospitality. Here are some ways to make your connections a bit more personal:<br /><br />• Use names. I don't mean dropping names to impress people ... I mean using the name of the person whom you are thanking or to whom you are speaking. Afraid of misprouncing the name? Ask how to pronounce it correctly.<br /><br />• Be positive. Positive energy is infectious. Give a hearty smile and good morning. Give a compliment, or make a positive comment. You'll feel better and establish the basis for positive rapport.<br /><br />• Ask a question to facilitate small talk. Good standbys include asking about an unusual name or item, or asking an opinion of the book they are reading. Fully listen to their answer, and determine whether they are interested in a continued conversation or not. <br /><br />• Consider your body language. You say just as much (if not more) through your nonverbal cues as your chosen words. Smiles and touch, when used appropriately, can quickly establish a positive connection.<br /><br />(P.S. - Composed at 30,000 feet <br /> using BlogPress lite from my iPhone.)<br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-57413388911503853612010-01-18T16:34:00.001-05:002010-01-18T16:34:29.219-05:00Wanna swap?Here's a problem-solving methodology designed to support finding creative solutions:<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://picasaweb.google.com/Greg.Melia.CAE/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXjg8GvmJbW3QE#5428196422581747138'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLf4faNSdhl-uk1A1tHjmVAMs3X8YBy3ZeYLPYd0835-Ki9u2s3LbFfmETe8stkGAO9SdHygn0hFOALA8TNriRZe5dpAiDVDO4GJ0aNRQUK8FBFe7dDsm5DBDtaHBB3P5-roLZSI2YFHp/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='320' height='320' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />And yes, that's a fridge magnet -at my parent's house!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress lite from my iPhone<br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-79999352012712344152010-01-17T14:59:00.002-05:002010-01-17T15:35:39.532-05:00Making TimeI recently shared that I was committed to taking back control my incoming email in 2010. So far, I have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">unsubscribed</span> from at least 25 mass mailing lists that had been clogging up my inbox. Most I just deleted. Some I redirected to my personal email account. Let me share, it has been fantastic! In addition to reduced volume, I am able to better focus my attention. It is a real time saver, and productivity booster. Fresh off those gains, I have begun looking at other ways to be a more effective manager of my time and productivity. Here are a few things that are helping:<br /><ol><li><a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/PublicationsResources/content.cfm?ItemNumber=42062"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">RSS</span> feeds</span></a> to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">iphone</span> via <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.appstorehq.com/mobilerss-freegooglereader-iphone-79255/app"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MobileRSS</span></a> - I had tried an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">iGoogle</span> page previously, but it didn't fit well into my routines. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MobileRSS</span> is great for me ... I can skim <a href="http://www.google.com/alerts">google alert</a> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">notifications</span>, favorite blogs, as well as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ASAE</span> & The Center <a href="http://www.asaecenter.org/aboutus/newsroom.cfm?navItemNumber=14951">news releases</a> and other feeds all on my commute on the subway. When I see a topic worth additional consideration, I can view the full item and/or email the link for follow-up.</li><li>Online Bill Payments coupled with online banking- Who likes opening envelopes, writing checks, putting a stamp on, and getting the envelope in the mail? Now, I get simple notification of most new bills by email, review the details in a flash, and authorize direct debit from my bank. And a email series of email notifications from my bank allow me to track payments and account balances. <br /></li><li>A mix of online and in person shopping. When I know what I want and can wait a few days for it to arrive, online shopping is an excellent convenience, especially with two small children in the house. On the other hand, our <a href="http://www.bjs.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BJ's</span> membership</span></a> has really been great too. Perhaps surprisingly, though, it is not the prices that I really like (in fact, often I think I can do as well or better on specific sale items at supermarkets). Rather, what is most valuable to me is that I am able to get diapers, groceries, printer cartridges, and other needed items such as car seats in one trip. And the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">BJs</span> close to my house is open late enough that I can do all that after the kids are tucked in.</li></ol>Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-55695071641425216762010-01-11T12:32:00.002-05:002010-01-11T13:06:32.495-05:00Quantity is important<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Jeffrey Cufaude hits on a creativity standard-bearer ("the best ways to find great ideas is to have lots of them") in a whole new way, warning us to <a href="http://jeffreycufaude.blogspot.com/2010/01/beware-of-combover-creativity.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beware of Combover Creativity</span></a>. But how to generate more ideas and encourage experimentation? If you've hit a wall (or just want to strengthen your creativity skill set) check out these resources: </span><ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> A humorous "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqPAUYF2-XQ">How to Generate Ideas (and how not to)</a>" video from the great folks at <a href="http://www.newandimproved.com/">New & Improved</a></span></li></ul><ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""></span> A quick overview of <a href="http://www.omniskills.com/cps/diverge.htm">key divergent thinking groundrules and a few tools</a></span></li></ul><ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A workbook including step-by-step instructions for <a href="http://www.innovationstyles.com/pdfs/IdeaGenerationTechniques.pdf">leading idea generation sessions </a><br /></span></li></ul><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> 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mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:auto; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:auto; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Got your interest? Consider picking up a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Leadership-Skills-Drive-Change/dp/1412913802">Creative Leadership: Skills That Drive Change</a>. For a sneak peek, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=93-ESE2zmugC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Creative+leadership:+skills+that+drive+change&ei=zGRLS_yPI4-cMoO78YAO&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false">click here</a>.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 7px; text-decoration: none;" onclick="document.location.href='/watch?v=TqPAUYF2-XQ'" onmouseover="this.style.textDecoration='underline'" onmouseout="this.style.textDecoration='none'"><br /></span>Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-65335118755160716792009-12-29T14:46:00.000-05:002009-12-29T15:07:40.782-05:00Reflections as 2009 draws to a closeWow, blogging isn't as easy as it looks. There are the usual challenges: finding time, making it a priority, and making it a part of my periodic routine. As the limited number of posts since I started this blog attests, these challenges have largely prevailed. And the end of the year is a perfect time to reflect on these learnings, and make a plan of action for the coming year. So here are a few things I am planning to overcome these challenges in 2010:<br /><br />1) I have decided to take back control of my email inbox. I'm currently in the process of unsubscribing my primary email from most bulk lists. I am hoping this will help me better manage my time and attention.<br />2) I've decided to continue blogging, with the intention of posting more frequently.<br />3) I am enlisting technology to help make blogging more integral part of my routine. As evidenced by this post, I've added blogpress lite to my iPhone. My iPhone is with me wherever I go, and I am hoping that allows me to find time to post more frequently (for example, in airports, waiting rooms and on the Metro.). Added bonus: supports uploading photos:<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://picasaweb.google.com/Greg.Melia.CAE/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXjg8GvmJbW3QE#5420752348010200162'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjye-IuL5yQnSnAXAHo-9Nn3MGbouh0Jg8RVXO_evqcf8LT_XKLzliECdApLKksfuNYgT6yRCp5SEMCaQtMK6Ag7qHsYff6dXdO-hezskAfWEx3_tdUg0hflzjiH0Wx5tY-w-wwyhyjkP-g/s288/iphone_photo.jpg' border='0' width='280' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />(Yes, that is a CAE ornament near the top.)<br /><br />As 2009 draws to a close, what is on your mind? What will you do differently in 2010?<br />Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-39475569427627636302009-10-09T09:20:00.003-04:002009-10-09T09:57:52.637-04:00So why did you do it?I received an interesting email this morning that began:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Hi Greg,</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We realize that we just sent out the first announcement about the new social media webinars and don't want to overwhelm you with too many emails about our offerings in a short period of time. The deadline to save $10 on any of our social media webinars is the end of today, Friday, October 9, 2009 so I could not help myself."</span><br /><br /><br />Like you, I receive lots of email. In fact, I receive so much that I rarely give much thought as to why a marketing email has been sent to me ... I just presume that the sender wants to market their product or service, and I generally read it in hopes of finding savings or to see if the product or service will make my life easier or more enjoyable. Often, the product is not of interest to me, but I'll forward the message on to others whom I believe may be interested.<br /><br />But the message this morning struck me in a different way. Clearly, the sender was attuned to the fact that I, like you, receive lots of email and did not want to "overwhelm" me with too much, too soon. Call my cynical, but I believe that the sender is more concerned getting my registration than helping me save $10. My take is that the sender decided that his interest in me registering before tonight's deadline outweighed his concern of overwhelming me with emails. All in all, these two sentences had the effect of making me aware that the sender had considered -- and subsequently dismissed -- the notion that the message might annoy me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It did.</span> As a result, I've added myself to the sender's 'do not contact' list. Which is a shame because just yesterday I had forwarded one of their messages to a colleague that I thought might have an interest in enrolling and helping to promote the programs. Now, just one day later, the sender has lost the opportunity to communicate with me and my broader network -- all due to two sentences that I feel have betrayed my trust.<br /><br />Trust is an essential element of change. Every action and interaction involves an element of trust. I like <a href="http://blueoxen.com/blog/2009/09/building-trust/">this blog post</a> on building trust. A more extensive resource on the topics is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/SPEED-Trust-Thing-Changes-Everything/dp/1416549005">The Speed of Trust</a>.Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-61732080100144489662009-07-27T13:19:00.003-04:002009-07-27T13:24:11.694-04:00Change at the BeachLeave it to <a href="http://www.getmejamienotter.com/about.html">Jamie Notter</a> to evoke deep thinking and longing for vacation at the same time. Check out his reflective <a href="http://www.getmejamienotter.com/getmejamienotter/2009/07/vacation-poetry.html">vacation poem</a> on change. I think it's great.Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-34812644963696867682009-07-14T09:08:00.003-04:002009-07-14T09:23:58.178-04:00There's always more than one wayI first learned about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory">Systems Theory</a> at college through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Social-Psychology-Organizations-Daniel-Katz/dp/0471023558">The Social Psychology of Organizations</a>. Since then, I've been a big fan of systems thinking, and always look for opportunities to introduce its concepts to others -- including my four year old daughter, Francesca. And it seems that she's really getting a good grasp of at least one of the concepts! On the way into work this morning, when <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyOzAoVTSyI">29 Ways</a> came on from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Marc-Cohn/dp/B000002IQI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247577631&sr=8-4">Marc Cohn</a> CD, I said to Frannie that it was a song about all of the ways the man could get to his girlfriend's house. "Daddy", Frannie replied, "It's about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equifinality">equifinality</a>."Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752589453646670417.post-454281653831466832009-07-09T19:43:00.002-04:002009-07-09T20:05:44.447-04:00You're invited to a retirement party!<a href="http://www.despair.com/">Despair.com</a> is having a <a href="http://site.despair.com/clearance/">retirement sale</a>. Apparently, sometimes sarcasm and humor DOES get old. There's some pretty funny stuff there, including a notepad memo cube with inspiration for your favorite <a href="http://www.despair.com/consulting.html">consultant</a>. There are a couple of shirts that would come in handy too, but wouldn't fit the attire expectations for the applicable events. (Although I could wear the <a href="http://despair.com/myblogshirt.html">Blog Shirt</a> just about anywhere!) <br /><br />I can see humor in most of the items, but was also surprised to think about the wisdom on <a href="http://www.despair.com/changewinds.html">one poster</a> which reads: <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Change</span>: When the winds of change blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can turn into deadly projectiles </span>. There is a thread of truth and useful piece of advice here: With sufficient force and momentum, small and seemingly trivial things can seriously injure or impede change. While you will likely have to be willing to let many things flow beyond your control in a change environment, I think the challenge is to seek to identify those building forces and their relationship to those seemingly small elements. Look especially to what your colleagues and stakeholders bring up. What you may have thought was trivial may be viewed very differently from their perspective.Greg Melia, CAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09922347488681669942noreply@blogger.com0