Board members play a crucial role in developing association leaders to ensure a strong pipeline of future leadership for years to come. Think back to when you felt encouraged to make an impact. Are you thinking about a time as a kid when your teacher or coach gave you encouraging feedback? Or are you picturing a time that made you more curious to dig in and be part of solution-based problem solving? As association leaders, it felt good to have someone give you a pat on the back or encourage you to be a part of something larger. We have a passion for bringing in others who have the expertise, asking the good (yet sometimes difficult) probing questions or seeing where they can improve the member experience. When we find the excited members to clone or duplicate here are suggested steps to empower them to lead:
1. Your role in Succession Planning:
As an association volunteer, we know we need to replace ourselves as our association leader journey may be a few years to decades of commitment. However, at some point, it is our duty to hand over our roles to potential successors. Who on your board or on staff can maintain a record of individuals who are being groomed for leadership roles? What is missing on the board that the industry needs? What viewpoint or what expertise is needed to strengthen the association in the years ahead?
Unfortunately, emergency planning is needed to ensure there is a plan in place for sudden leadership vacancies. Many times, we have risk management plans in place for events but what about leadership changes. What practices could be made into policy for unexpected changes? Who has access to logins and passwords that are used?
2. Identify Potential Leaders:
As you observe your association, look for individuals who exhibit leadership qualities, such as strong communication skills, innovative viewpoints, reliability, and a proactive attitude. Each event, meeting or newsletter prompts members to be engaged. Who is stepping forward to help? Are there micro-volunteer opportunities to assist in the associations efforts to further the organization’s mission?
Nominations to run for a position or apply for a leadership role seem simple. If we post on social media that there are openings for board or committee roles, we assume “they will come.” But if we are honest with ourselves, board members must encourage current members to nominate peers they believe have leadership potential. How have you made this effort to be a part of the board’s strategic plan? What is listed on the website year around to show how the board functions, what the future roles and responsibilities are and when the opportunities are available?
3. Leadership Development & Involvement:
When considering applying for or running for a position or board role, you want to know the assigned responsibilities beyond the job description. Sharing how they will be supported by the board, committee and staff allows the members to know the commitment level needed and the term length.
Give potential leaders roles within committees to help them gain experience and understand the workings of the association by gradually increasing their responsibilities and allowing them to lead smaller projects or sub-committees.
4. Encourage Relationship Building & Networking:
People join people. The world is changing around us but one thing that isn’t changing is people still join people. Building relationships at in-person and online events strengthens organizations and the industries that we serve. Board members help facilitate opportunities for members or potential members to connect with current leaders within the association. What is the expectation of your association to participate in industry events and conferences to broaden their perspective and network? Attending and engaging with others adds to the list of volunteer options to nurture and develop future leaders.
Our job on the board is to ensure the continued success and sustainability of the association. Year around scouting for members to become A-List leaders is a team effort. Let’s get recruiting!
Lisa Moore
As Executive Director, Lisa incorporates her 20+ years of expertise in higher education and fraternal organizations to manage a broad range of association and membership services. She spent majority of her career providing leadership at Indiana State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Southern Mississippi. Her higher education career focused on communication, marketing, student success services and alumni association. She is also a member of the Memphis Area Alumnae Panhellenic Association.