Strategy

Every interaction builds or erodes trust. Every conversation either strengthens a professional relationship or weakens it. The details get forgotten, but the feeling lingers. People remember how you made them feel far longer than they remember what exactly was said. That’s why leaders need to take their own communication so seriously. It’s not about being endlessly polite or sugar-coating everything. It’s about being intentional. It’s about understanding that the how is as im

The association sector is full of grand strategies, slick digital platforms, and promises of “the next big thing” in member engagement; but when economic turbulence hits and budgets are tight, the organisations that thrive aren’t necessarily those chasing the shiny and new. Instead, they are the ones doubling down on the fundamentals, i.e., the “back to basics” essentials of recruitment, retention, and relationships.

The technology gap between native apps and mobile websites has closed. Today’s responsive sites scale beautifully across devices, offering smooth navigation, embedded video, and interactive features. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) go further: they allow offline access, background updates, and even push notifications, all without the friction of app downloads.

I recently completed an Independent Non-Executive Director (iNED) recruitment process for a client. As part of closing the loop, I...

When did membership become a countdown? In many (most?) organisations, belonging is framed as a one-year transaction, neatly packaged...

Membership organisations all face a familiar challenge: how do you deliver value to a wide range of people whose needs, motivations, and...

Membership bodies are not famous for moving fast and nor should they be. Their role is to serve a defined constituency with stability,...

Membership organisations are built on the promise of community. Their websites and marketing materials talk about “our network,” “our...

“Fail fast, fail often.” In the tech world, it’s become a rallying cry, a philosophy that champions experimentation, rapid iteration, and...

Across the membership sector, there’s a persistent paradox. Organisations will readily sign off six- or even seven-figure budgets for CRM...

There’s a quiet revolution reshaping the way we all use the internet, and for membership-based organisations, it’s more than just a...

Last month I facilitated a planning session with the staff of a professional membership body. One debate, about how to treat retired...

Membership organisations are steeped in history. They carry the legacy of founders, past presidents, early pioneers, and sector-shaping...

Last month I spent time with the operating team of a well-established association. We were working together to translate their new...

If you were asked to name the world’s largest membership body, you probably wouldn’t think of the BBC. But with over 23 million...

In the complex ecosystem of modern membership organisations, data is no longer a back-office function. It is strategic capital....

If you’ve ever sat through an AI demo and left more confused than when you arrived, you’re not alone. One of the biggest obstacles to...

There is a particular kind of sting that comes when your work is publicly questioned by someone who not only doesn’t understand it, but...

In an era where decisions must be both data-driven and ethically grounded, board effectiveness hinges on clarity, particularly clarity...

Last year, I was hired to advise a regional membership body on its ambition to reposition as a UK-wide national entity. It was a pivotal...