LEADERSHIP

“Build back better” is fast becoming the phrase of 2021.  As many of us tentatively emerge from enforced isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, talking heads pop up endlessly on the news to express their foresight on the future of work, technology, the environment, and transport. 

Emma Ellis of Redwood Ellis explains why and how she believes businesses can take a more hand on approach to employees’ wellbeing.

Simon Forrester is an association leader with over 25 years' experience in a variety of trade and professional membership senior roles. Here, he explores how the pandemic has changed the way associations work, and are perceived

We work in an industry globally that exists in one way or another to foster safe environments for innovation, with an increasing expectation that your membership body, the professional should and can provide that safe space for creativity, the sharing ideas and problems, along with finding innovative solutions.

The hallmarks of a successful organisations are a Board who will listen to their Chief Financial Officer, and a C.F.O who listens to the rest of the operational team and really understands what is being said. These Boards have mindfulness at the centre of all aspects of governance, considering things such as inclusion, diversity and tackling racism and sexism from the highest level down. 

Like the people who report to them, leaders have sometimes felt burnout and run low on motivation while navigating the challenges of the past year. But to inspire their teams, senior association professionals must be inspired themselves. Here are a few tips to help leaders stay motivated.

If you think governance is “boring”, then you’re doing it all wrong. If you think governance is a tick-box exercise, then you’re doing it all wrong. If you think governance is a chore, a burden, or an effort, then YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WRONG!

COVID-19 and the subsequent public health and safety measures have prohibited in-person gatherings for most of 2020 and will continue to do so for the near future. One of the worst-hit sectors is the events industry: the ban on mass face-to-face gatherings has meant no concerts, sporting events, festivals and, specifically for associations, no conferences, exhibitions, dinners, award ceremonies and so on. For the vast majority of membership organisations, events are integral to their value proposition and a significant income generator.