Changing Conversations: Changing Outcomes - A manifesto for going far, together.
The AAE "Changing Conversations: Changing Outcomes" programme supports association executives and association volunteers to bring their best and grow their capabilities, driving their association to exceptional results.
John Scarrott, our partner in delivering this programme, reflects on the community's most recent input into the programme.
As I was reflecting on the results of the poll inviting the AAE community to choose the themes you would like held as open Masterclasses in the programme, this African proverb (“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”) came to my mind.
Going far and going together is baked into the formula for an effective association. Associations represent communities. They thrive because there are some situations, causes, beliefs, challenges that cannot be worked on, changed or solved fast, by individuals on their own. Associations bring people together to create progress and change in just these kinds of situations.
Togetherness is also an essential quality for an association to nurture in its people. It’s not easy working on long game issues. It takes time, energy and dedication to make progress. But it can be made easier.
Leaders have an opportunity to invest in their people, to equip them to come together and stay together, to nurture and build the togetherness that these journeys require. Staying together in normal times is a significant challenge. Doing so at the moment, in the face of critical short-term personal and professional challenges is something else. Yet my guess is that it’s something associations are ready to engage with. Why do I think that? Take a look at the top four themes as chosen by the AAE community:
Changing Conversations: Changing Outcomes Top Four Themes
- Meetings: Chairing and Participating that makes meetings productive
- Team Communications: getting people working better together
- Influencing and Motivating: engaging others and harnessing their talents
- Challenging Conversations: when words matter, finding the right ones
View these Masterclasses here >>
What do you see? For me, togetherness runs through them like a stick of candy / rock. These themes are all about how you journey, as individuals, as a team and as an organisation. How you go far, together. How you take care of yourselves and each other to make that journey great. And what you do when you hit a bump. Quite a manifesto for going far, well, together
What do you think about making an investment in togetherness? It will be money well spent. It will enable your people to stick together, support each other and continue to go far. And with that, your Association can successfully and more effectively serve your community on what matters to them.
Conversations are the key to all of this. What do you think?
To share your thoughts and ideas, login to the website and contribute to the online forum below.