10 Tweets On Association Membership Engagement

Recently I have lead several workshops / facilitated discussions with groups of association leaders on ways to get the members in their chapters more engaged.  When I am the keynote speaker at events I am often asked to also run interactive breakout sessions. I love doing this, as I learn from the attendees about any number of topics.

Sessions at conferences where the participants explore ideas and share their own experiences can be powerful.  As a speaker I have thoughts to share, but there is a unique power in group conversations.  I will always kick off these chats with some generic concepts and then let them go.  Fasten you seat belts, as there is always cool stuff coming!

Below I have taken some of the key points from these recent conversations and turned them into Tweets.  Feel free to use them if they resonate with you.  Tweet away! (no need to give me credit, as with only 140 characters it is more important to share the ideas).

10 Tweets With Ideas For Association Engagement

If you want better member engagement at your meetings, create amazing events that people will talk about when they get home! #events 

Have a plan to set a positive tone for culture, conversation & connection at association meetings. Do not let culture happen by accident

Keep your association growing by being a place for all generations. Get beyond "we've never done that" or "they need to pay their dues" 

The best organizations have Mentor Programs and Reverse Mentor Programs (older members teach the younger & younger members teach the older)

Never assume you know why members participate in your association.  There are many reasons, find out why people want to join your group.

Don't hide from the "elephants in the room".  If your association or committee has something that bothers members, discuss it. 

Many associations are still not successful at being active on social media before, during and after their events. Keep your people engaged

Membership recruitment does not happen by accident.  Seek out the types of people you want in your organization and ask them to join.

Create a "Praise Others Program" in your monthly meeting where 2 or 3 people sign up (in advance) to share good news about another member

If your association meetings have cliques and newer members feel excluded, find ways to let them create their own communities.

Always find a way to give your association membership MORE than they expect at every meeting and in every communication.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

*Yes, I know there are 11 Tweets... re-read the last one ;-)

The Long Haul of Belonging To An Industry Association

People want immediate results.  Our society has become seduced by speed.  We expect to have whatever we desire to arrive NOW.  Fast food, instant communications, the ability to travel around the world, etc... have lead us to believe that all results come quickly.

Some things take time. The ROI from belonging to a group (social, spiritual, business, etc...) are not necessarily something that can be fast-tracked.  Social Media has fooled up into thinking that connections are just a click away.

I often write about the power of being active in your industry association or other trade organizations.  Power is gained from being connected with other people who share your interests that cannot be duplicated.  But the long-term results are just that.  You cannot instantly "like", "link", "share", or "follow" your way to be part of a community.

Participating in the National Speakers Association for the past five years has been an important part of my business success as a professional speaker.  I am often asked why I give so much credit to the organization, and my response is that the people with whom I have met have directly and indirectly helped me grow.  NSA provides much learning, but they really provide access to the best people in my business.  While the experience I had at my first NSA Convention was great, it cannot compare to the powerful ideas that came from participating in my 5th convention.  

Over the years I have learned how to navigate the conference and established meaningful connections with other speakers who have become my lifelong friends.  I am in regular contact with many of these professionals, and we trade best practices and serve as sounding boards in sifting through ideas.  I have become part of a "Mastermind Group" with four others, and they slowly are becoming my unofficial board of directors.  I look forward to hearing their latest success, and am inspired to share with them my own results.

Attending the NSA's summertime event once was fun... yet my dedication to continued participation in the organization has given me an annual benchmark for the growth of my business.  I always come home with pages of notes, and am repeatedly awed by the platform skills of my peers.  However it is over time that I have come to appreciate the variety of ways one can establish their career.  Seeing the keynote presentations and being around those who have reached the pinnacle of success makes me try harder.  Without this accumulation of information and observations over time I do not think I would have the level of understanding of the important role that speakers play in the Meetings Industry or the greater society.

While every person and each organization are different (and there is not always a fit for everyone in their industry group), the discovery of value from supporting your trade association can take many years. 

Many sour on these groups because they see those who have participated for years (sometimes decades) as having a lock on the key relationships.  But anyone can carve out their own community inside the larger whole.  Do not allow the cliquey nature of a group stop you from gaining the value that comes from participation.  Over time you can develop a reputation within your industry, and earn the respect of your peers that cannot be acquired instantaneously. 

Long time members in any organization often fail to see how they close their ranks in failing to welcome new members.  They host a "first timers reception" and check the box as being "welcoming".  This usually leads to a group of new members feeling left out.  Some never come back.  Not every association does a good job of creating a culture of connecting.   But those who persevere and continue to return will become more recognized over time.  

It is a long haul to belong to an industry association, and many who demand fast results will never stick around long enough to understand the value in participation.  When you find the right group you will need to make your own warm nest of friends inside the greater collective.  Together you will come to become leaders and leave your own impact on the whole organization (but be careful not to become the next clique).

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Bust The Cliques At Association Conferences

Association conferences can be cliquey.  

I know, people claim their meeting is different.  Ice breakers, first-time receptions, and other efforts are made to help people connect.... but human nature being what it is, we end up with cliques.

It is like high school.  There was always a "cool kids table", and those who sat there may have had no idea they were exclusive. This happens at annual gatherings too, as people build friendships over the years and they are so happy to get together that their whole purpose for attending is a mini-reunion with their clique.  This is not bad, as these peer-to-peer friendships help drive attendance, but it can also leave others feeling as if they are on the outside looking inward.

Now, there is also the problem that not everyone will hit it off and be friends.  You cannot force relationships to grow, and sometimes there are just people who are misfits to a group.  But everyone should be able to find their own peeps at an association conference, and those who are long-time members can benefit from seeking out new people to add to their circles.

So what can be done to make the attendees at your event become more inclusive?  Talk about the elephant in the room.  Make connecting it part of your opening ceremonies.  

I belong to an organization that makes a point each year to stress how welcoming their members are to those they do not know.  They praise the big tent / family atmosphere... but is it real?  At the convention two years ago I stood alone for two hours at a reception waiting to see how many people would come talk to me.  Aside from a few friends (who were not aware of my intentional experiment) not one person said hello (and I was trying to look around, make eye contact, and not look creepy).  Then the president stood up and raved about how there are no cliques in this organization.  Ummm, wrong... this group is no different from other associations.

Pretending your members are all seeking and inviting strangers into conversations does not make it real. 

It is better to create a networking culture at a conference, but this does not happen by accident.  You must create an atmosphere that gives people permission to engage.  They want to do it, but it does not happen organically.  Most people cite "networking opportunities" as a main reason for coming to a conference, but their time is spent with co-workers, old friends, and on their phones.

Your speakers are key to getting people to engage.  This does not necessarily mean they must use ice breakers (most ice breakers are lame anyway), but instead they have to be conversational and interactive style that encourages attendees to share with each other.  It is often the "Hallway Conversations" (those serendipitous chats between people) that bring the greatest ROI to the "Conference Attendee Experience".  And yet in the planning stages of an event we often fail to allow for those moments to occur (as in the planning we are focused on content and food!! - both important, by the way).

If you think your event has issues with cliques or simply not enough engagement, there are many things you can do to put a new spark in how people interact.  People are hoping your meeting will be a "happening", as nobody comes seeking "blah".  However, amazing human engagement will not happen by accident.  

If you make networking a second tier priority you will have second tier results.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections.  http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

Association Meeting Ideas for Local Chapters

Many of us belong to local chapters of national associations.  These area groups are often the life-line between the large national headquarters and the local members.  The annual meeting might be a great event to network and be seen, but not everyone can attend. 

Time, travel and money can keep some members from getting to the big events, and thus the local monthly gatherings are how many stay connected to the organizations they support.

However, the success of the local meetings can be hit or miss.  Some fall short of expectations for many in the membership.  Too often local chapters get stale and have the same format month in and month out.  It is not uncommon for the much of the target audience to develop a pre-conceived idea of what to expect from every local gathering.  When this happens it can taint the expectations and key members simply stop attending.

Local chapters of any national organizations can spark-up the meetings that local members attend, but only if those in charge are willing to think beyond the status quo.  It takes an investment of time (and sometimes money), but the end result will be a better educational and networking experience for everyone involved. Creating awesome local chapter meetings will drive membership and participation numbers and people will spread the word about the entire organization.

Three Tips For Better Local Chapter Meetings

1.  Change the format.  A luncheon with a speaker is the standard for a chapter meeting.  The format is often 30 minutes of networking with an hour for announcements and a talk by someone who is willing to speak without being paid.  Little attention is focused on how good the speaker is at presenting.  Instead the idea is on their title, company or topic.  

Too often little at these meetings serve the needs of the members.  The same agenda at the same location every time with a cookie cutter approach to speakers and your group is doomed to being dull.

Try exchanging lunch for some evening or morning events and host a special social reception at least once per year.  Additionally, create an advisory board of your most important members and have a dinner for them twice a year so that they can share best practices they see in other groups they participate in around your city.  This VIP dinner will also be the opportunity for you to discover what they would like to see in the future. The more ideas you hear, the better chance you will have of discovering new concepts that will work for your organization.

2.  Get great speakers.  This does NOT mean getting a list of local executives who have done cool things and inviting them to speak.  Instead, find people who not only have good experience, but that also are seasoned speakers. Speaking is a skill, and not everyone belongs on your stage.  

At least twice a year get special sponsors and bring in a speaker from out of town (and pay their fee).  Try to hire someone who will provide information and entertainment, and use the meeting as a recruitment tool.  I regularly hear from groups who say it is not possible to raise money for a special speaker, but I see other groups do this successfully year after year.  It takes effort to find the perfect speaker and to raise the money, but when done right it will have a lasting impact.

If you usually have industry specialists speak, try getting someone from a different field of expertise once a year.  Make one or more of your meetings a panel discussion.  Do not be afraid of getting an author or professional speaker from outside your industry, as their point of view might be just what your audience needs.  

It is also a good idea to have one meeting without a speaker, and let the audience share their thoughts.  Your members are experts, give them the chance to be heard.  But this will require a good facilitator who can keep the meeting running smoothly and limit any one person from dominating the conversation.  These types of town hall conversations can make more people feel included and the power of the information will surprise you.

3.  Host an event in someones home.  Many groups meet in hotel ballrooms or restaurant private dining areas.  While these are the best options for most regular meetings, hosting a special holiday reception or other VIP event at the home of a member can create a unique experience.  Parties in a private home have a more intimate feel than those in traditional venues, and this allows people to bond in a different and more casual manner.

If someone on your board is willing to host a special event, the organization can take care of the catering and hiring servers to help with clean up, etc....  You may want to limit such an event to members only or otherwise have a VIP event where it is invite only, but this type of special meeting can create a one of a kind evening.

Trying new things is the only way to keep your local chapter fresh.  If your organization is always following the same calendar, your members might find your agenda boring.  Boring meetings are never remembered.  If all your events are quickly forgotten, you members might forget to renew when it is time for their dues to be paid.

Trying new meeting formats involves some risk.  But risk is part of success.  If you are willing to shake things up, in the long run you will have a better organization that will attract new members.  If you are stale, you know what happens (and it is not good).

Have A Great Day

thom singer