Fail stamp

Failing Fast, Hard and Often – How to use strategic risk strategies to succeed

Association, Association Management, Association Management Issues, Event Planning, High Performance Organization, Issues Management, Member Engagement, Member Value Proposition, Successful Conferences

Change is critical. It’s also risky. There are 4 inescapable facts to keep in mind. We cannot succeed without regular, meaningful change Some changes will fail Some changes will fail at first but become successful over time There will always be a vocal contingent of opposition There are some changes that are simply essential. You…

Caution blind driver

Performance Metrics for Associations – Are You Driving Blind?

Association, Association Management, Association Management Issues, Benchmark Survey, Member Value Proposition, Sponsor Value Proposition

We’re way behind but we’re getting better. Our sector is way behind the for-profit world, but we’re getting better. We know from our annual survey of Canadian membership associations, that the vast majority of Canadian associations do not track and manage the basic metrics of their business. Until recently, even the concept of managing a…

Zzeem staff welcomes Dutch delegation

Association Trends – What’s Happening in Europe?

Association, Association Management, Association Management Issues, Governance, High Performance Organization, Leadership, Member Education, Member Engagement, Member Value Proposition, Volunteer Engagement

By Asif Ahmed, Manager at Zzeem Zzeem recently hosted an European-Canadian summit to exchange views on how associations and Association Management Companies (AMCs) operate across Canada and abroad. The 10-member delegation represented various Dutch associations and AMCs. There seemed to be a lot of similarities and differences between Europe and Canada not only in the…

Marilyn Monroe seven year itch

Even Associations Experience the “Seven Year Itch”

Association Management, Association Management Issues, High Performance Organization, Issues Management, Leadership

The “Seven Year Itch” is more than just a romantic notion made famous by Hollywood, where partners take stock of their relationship and decide whether it’s working or it’s time to find something new and “better”. This also happens to associations and their association management partners. After all, association management is like any other relationship.…

Building relationships

Reducing Risk in Sponsor Relationships – Is your sponsor platform on solid ground?

Event Planning, Sponsor Value Proposition, Sponsorship

Associations need a well-executed delivery process to ensure a highly professional experience for their valued sponsors. Yes – a High Performance Organization™ understands the Seven Steps to Successful Sponsorship and the importance of Attracting and Retaining Sponsors. But it’s not just about the sale. Take a step back and consider your key tracking and communication…