Cultural pressure is amazingly powerful. Once upon a time it meant life or death. If the tribe tossed us out, we were dead. This cultural pressure lives on today. Cultural pressure dictates how we dress, how we behave and what we aspire to. Many sons and daughters go off to college to get into the profession their parents hoped for them.
Cultural pressure is keenly felt in leadership roles too. Bigger is better, more market share is better and the more members the better. What if bigger is not better for your association? What is smaller is better? Or what if adding more of only your best members is better?
The trick is coming up with a vision uniquely your own. A vision that advances what members really need. A vision that the staff and board can rally behind once they understand it.
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