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By Nick Koerbin
Congratulations if you have been appointed as the new CEO of an Association or not-for-profit Organisation.
As an association leader, I have had the opportunity to be appointed to this role several times, and I am happy to share a few lessons
learned during this early time to help you succeed in your new role.
Here are some actions I made in the first four months that have worked for me.
😎 One of the first crucial steps I recommend is scheduling individual meetings with all staff, including contractors. This is an
opportunity to understand their roles, appreciate their contributions, assess the existing systems, and identify any areas of concern or
frustration.
😎 Meet with the President to discuss the Board's objectives and how you can assist the President in managing the board's day-to-day
challenges.
😎 Determine if the Board has an active strategic plan that is being used during its meetings. If not, start developing a strategy to
introduce the strategic planning process to the Board.
😎 Find out who in the membership or others that influences the sector or association. Meet with them and ask them how the association
could improve. You may find that no one has listened to them in the past, and they may have important information to share.
😎 Identify critical sponsors and stakeholders and schedule a meeting by introducing yourself and identifying their needs.
😎 As the newly appointed CEO, your role in this process is crucial. Your decisions will directly impact the organisation's success,
demonstrating the value and organisation of your position.
😎 You must dedicate the first four months to truly understanding the organisation. This includes meeting with key staff, building a strong
relationship with the President, and, most importantly, allowing members, volunteers, and staff to share their organisation's understanding.
It will help you make informed decisions and build stronger organisational relationships.
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Risk management is one of those areas that every association and not-for-profit Board knows is important - but it can sometimes become
little more than a risk register reviewed once or twice a year.
Insurance can be treated in much the same way.
The organisation receives its annual insurance renewal, the premium is approved, the policy is renewed and everyone assumes the organisation
is covered.
A practical look at volunteer governance, operational decision-making and what the events industry needs to understand about associations.
Nick Koerbin has spent many years working with professional and industry associations, and he has developed a simple habit: whenever he
meets a professional, he often asks whether they belong to their association — and whether they believe the membership is worth it.
A recent conversation with a young allied health professional raised some important questions about membership value, relevance and the
expectations of the next generation.
In this article, Nick shares that conversation and challenges association leaders to consider a simple but confronting question:
Would the next generation of professionals in your sector believe your association is worth joining?
How we help membership based, not-for-profit associations now and into the future.
