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By Nick Koerbin
Have we completed our Annual General Meeting?
Have we inducted our new Board members? So what is next?
Heading into a new financial/year, the Board should now be scheduling some time to review your strategic plan?
As an association leader, you probably have a strategic plan for your organisation. But have you fully articulated why this plan is
important? And have you done all of the necessary work to properly develop one?
A comprehensive strategic plan is key to your association’s ability to thrive and grow in a competitive, complex landscape. A strategic
plan's purpose is to create an association's direction. Without this sense of direction, it is easy for an association to fall into the trap
of simply moving from one “priority” task to the next, without any sense of how this activity is contributing to a greater goal.
There are four key reasons why a strategic plan is vital for an association.
1. Outlines a roadmap towards success. No business can achieve great things without having a plan in place to
reach these outcomes.
2. Adds clarity and focus. It assists in ensuring that you target key actions and priorities, without getting
distracted by other things.
3. Builds awareness of strengths and weaknesses. Taking the time to consider what has worked well before, and
what hasn’t, is important for any organisation.
4. Creates a sense of purpose and unity. It shows everyone – from the President to the volunteers – what you
are striving for and the role that each individual can play.
The association sector is in the middle of a leadership handover.
Across Australia and New Zealand, CEOs and Executive Directors are moving on. Some are retiring. Some have gone to larger organisations.
Some have left because the relationship with their Board ran out of puff. The reasons vary, but the movement is noticeable, and Boards are
appointing replacements.
The encouraging part is the calibre of the people coming in. Many are genuinely well suited to the job — capable executives with strong
records behind them. A good number are stepping into an association CEO role for the first time.
Most associations can provide a long list of membership benefits. They may include professional development, advocacy, networking, industry information, events, resources, accreditation, discounts and access to specialist advice. However, a list of benefits does not necessarily explain why someone makes the decision to join.
While every Board is different, the same governance issues appear time and again. One of the most common is allowing one person’s behaviour
to dominate the Board table.
Almost every Board has experienced it at some point. One director who seems to consume more time and energy than everyone else combined.
How we help membership based, not-for-profit associations now and into the future.
