It seems that many folks in the chamber and association world (both execs and their boards) are afraid to “rock the boat”- possibly fearing that they might “sink the boat” – when in reality, if they don’t, they might “miss the boat.”
Translation: So many chamber and association leaders seem to be reluctant to embrace change…fearing that they might do something wrong or fail…when, in reality, if they don’t change, they may go out of business.
While being dominated by tradition and events might be the easy way to go, but as I travel around the country it’s crystal clear that we need to do a better job at being true problem solvers.
In the chamber world there is no doubt that becoming a chamber that is a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers to get things done and a champion for a thriving community won’t be easy and may take your organization to a new and maybe even an uncomfortable place – a far different world than that of a 3P chamber that focuses on parties, parades and pageants.
If chambers and associations are going to excel at being in the “solutions business”, then they need to make sure that they know what the real “pain points” are facing their members.
In order for our organizations to select the appropriate causes to be addressed, we are going to have to up their game at gathering intel and data from their members and others in the community.
Everybody has anecdotes, but only the winning organizations invest in customer research and analytics to help them make smart choices and back up the stories, beliefs and decisions that are made during board meetings.
Does your organization have the willingness to “do its homework” and be more data driven? And then after you have that information, does your organization have the courage to “rock the boat” or will you “stay the course” doing business as usual and maybe even “miss the boat”?
Bluntly put, the future success of your organization may depend on how you answered the above questions.
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