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By Nick Koerbin
Leading a not-for-profit association comes with its unique set of challenges, and one of the most crucial aspects is having a strong
administration team to keep everything running smoothly. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with our admin staff from Association
Executive Services,
who shared what they believe are the core competencies required for their roles. Here's what I found:
😎 Masteringng the Microsoft Suite
It's no surprise that proficiency in the Microsoft suite of products is non-negotiable. This includes:
Outlook: For efficient email management and scheduling.
Word: For creating and editing documents.
PowerPoint: To craft compelling presentations.
Excel: For data analysis and financial tracking.
😎 Website and CRM Management
Admin staff must be tech-savvy, especially when updating the Association's Website and keeping web pages current and relevant.
Manage the Customer Retention System (CRM), ensuring accurate and up-to-date member data.
😎 Event Management Expertise
Organising events is a big part of the job. Admin staff should be adept at the following:
Planning and Coordinating Events, from small meetings to large conferences, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
😎 Board Support
Supporting the board is critical. This includes:
Distributing Agendas and Papers
Ensuring board members are well-prepared.
Taking Minutes: Accurately recording meeting discussions and decisions.
😎 Graphic Design Skills
A touch of creativity goes a long way. Competency in graphic software such as Canva or InDesign for designing marketing materials and
newsletters.
😎 Financial Software Proficiency
Keeping track of finances is essential, so being able to use:
Xero and MYOB For managing budgets and accounts.
😎 Google Suite Knowledge
The Google suite is another vital tool, with products such as:
Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive For collaboration and document sharing.
😎 Social Media Savvy
In today's digital age, the ability to:
Post on Social Media, engage with members and promote association activities.
😎 Interpersonal Skills
An excellent admin team is one that:
Relates Well with All Team Members
Building strong internal and external relationships.
😎 Supports the Needs of Members
Providing excellent customer service and member support.
😎 Touch Typing
And finally, an often-overlooked but handy skill:
Touch Typing at Least 40 Words Per Minute, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
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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.
