Have you ever had a conversation with an extremely busy, successful person and while they were talking to you, they made you feel like you were the only person in the world? That is a superpower! These folks have the ability to make the time, have the attention, and maintain their focus on the other person. It sounds so simple but this is very difficult.
Successful member organizations also have this superpower. It is a mindset the whole staff shares. Their orientation is always member-first. This mindset is reflected in the organization’s strategy, marketing, member services, benefits, intangible benefits and more.
You might be thinking! “Of course! Our member organization is for our members”. Yes, it is! And it is easy to get sucked into worrying about revenues, making sure the next big event is planned and working on the endless list of AMS and website projects. There is a lot of administrative work to be done so no wonder it is so easy to slip into an association-first mode.
The trick is to start with members just about all of the time. Who are your members? What do they need right now? What will they need in two years? What will make them successful?
It is not about us, it is about them.
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