Board members are the backbone of all membership associations. The opportunity to lead is a rewarding experience, but one that comes with a lot of responsibility. As much of a career benefit as it can be, a lot of other people will rely on you and your contributions within your industry.
We’ll take you through our five top traits of a successful leader, and how manifesting these can help your association.
Communication
Communication is a vital skill in any aspect, but more specifically knowing how and when to communicate with others. When in an association you must consider communication with not just your Board, but with your members and also other industry professionals.
Consider how you want the general public to view the association and how members see you and your team. Communication is fundamental in creating crucial connections across your industry to help provide develop opportunities and benefits for your members.
Communicate to inspire action across not just industry, but throughout the leadership group of your association. Present new ideas and motivate others to do the same, enabling collaboration and teamwork for the good of the association. Forming strong connections with your team not only increases overall performance of each individual but sets a fantastic example to the entirety of the association.
Respect
In tandem with communication, respect must be considered a key value. Feedback and criticism can come in many forms – it’s vital that it’s paid attention to and acted upon accordingly. Give not only your Board, but all members a platform to voice their opinions and give suggestions.
Collaboration with others is paramount to learning and development, and not doing so would be a hinderance to the success of the association.
Future Planning
Don’t get stuck in the “now”. The association’s mission statement should always be at the forefront of any development planning. It’s important to explore a bigger picture and look what’s beyond the day-to-day duties within the association.
Acknowledge the need for decision making and create a plan of how you envisage the future. Open other Board members up to new ideas, and with their help, get the ball rolling.
Delegation
Juggling multiple balls in any industry can be stressful. Realise that sometimes it’s fine to say no to tasks, and instead delegate them to others. Workloads should be fairly balanced between your team – spreading the load evenly promotes creativity and collaboration, as no two minds work the same. Recognise that everybody has their own skillset, and some tasks may be better suited to others.
Responsibility
A successful leader must take responsibility for their actions and remain accountable. Any potential issues that arise must be addressed and dealt with to help the association through any adversities. Over time your contributions will grow the value of the association.
To explore more about member engagement, click HERE.
