For the Love of Associations—Be the Change

Years ago, in the membership department of a specialty medical association, dues payments were taken over the phone and each receipt was generated, attached and emailed manually. (Yikes!) Considering how much technology has advanced and automated, it is surprising how little progress has been made for the working humans driving our organizations and the fields we serve forward. Association teams have broad impact and can be the change needed in our world of work—for the association community and our industries at large. 

Henry Ford popularized the 40-hour week in 1926. One hundred years is a long time to still be working the same 35 to 40-hour week, attempting to tackle the never-ending work that weighs many of us down. Executive leadership training has taught me that we were never meant to finish everything. Our purpose is to do our best, prioritize, recalibrate continually—and enjoy our lives away from our work even when it is mission-driven and we are passionate about our purpose.

Leaders today can model the working environments of the future—demonstrating how progress, human well-being and meaningful business results can advance together. The data shows what to do and how to do it.

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