By July, it’s common for professional membership association boards and leadership teams to be running on momentum. Major projects are in motion, plans are on track, and the autumn schedule is looming on the horizon. Somewhere amidst the heatwaves and holidays it can often feel too easy to coast your way through the summer.
While it may seem like it, summer shouldn’t be used as a bridge between quarters, it’s a golden opportunity for reflection. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a time to fully review your 5-year strategy, but it’s important to take a moment to reflect on your organisations progress throughout the year.
Ask yourself these four questions to prompt some mid-year reflection at a board level.
Are we Delivering?
Take a look back over your board minutes and business strategy from the beginning of the year. What’s progressed as planned? What’s slipped? And what’s emerged that wasn’t even on the radar six months ago?
It’s not about nitpicking at what hasn’t been done yet, but about accountability and making sure that your associations plans reflect reality, not just aspiration.
Are we Spending Time on the Right Things?
How much of your recent board time has gone into operational detail or a recap overload, versus how much has gone into strategy, foresight and big-picture decision making?
It’s very easy for boards to slip out of balance at times. A mid-year check-in is a chance to recalibrate and ensure you are spending your time wisely.
Are we listening?
Consider who you represent as an association. Are you meeting the needs of the members, or spending too much time focusing on one area in particular? Facilitate open discussion during your board meetings and strategy sessions to allow for different perspectives to be shared. This ensures that all members are represented and that you are always striving to achieve your organisations vision and mission.
Good governance is about how decisions are shaped, who feels empowered to speak, and finding out what might be missing from the conversation.
Are we Clear on What’s Next?
We don’t like using the “Q” word, but summer tends to be a slower time in terms of diary bookings. With this in mind, September can hit like a freight train as everybody starts coming back from annual leave.
Be clear on:
- Key deadlines in Q3
- Reviews and milestones
- Dates and agendas for autumn meetings
A quick review of your organisations diary and roadmap can prevent a lot of stress later down the line.
How We Can Help
At Cygnul we work in partnership with our clients and are seen as trusted advisors to the Board. We can undertake the full range of membership, secretarial and bookkeeping services as well as offering advice and support to associations around the UK. If you want to explore how these services could help your organisation, please get in touch with us.
