Succession planning is important for any position, but especially critical for your Executive Director. As the Board’s only staff member or the direct supervisor for all other staff, planning for this succession weighs on both the Executive Director and the Board to plan for successful and smooth transitions. Both the Board and Executive Director must work together to future-proof the association so it may withstand inevitable changes at the helm.
Leadership transitions are always a big moment—but in membership-based associations, they carry even more weight. Leaders aren’t just handing off responsibilities, they are upholding the trust of their members, supporting volunteer leaders, and ensuring continuity of services that directly impact people’s careers, causes, or communities. Good news is, change doesn’t have to derail progress.
With clear communication, intentional planning, and a member-first approach, your association can navigate a leadership transition without losing momentum—and even build new energy along the way.
Your own networking habits—and those of your board colleagues and association management staff—can directly influence member engagement. When association leaders and teams build strong, intentional connections inside and outside the organization, it leads to better-informed decisions, stronger alignment, and a more engaged member base.
Effective data management is key to helping professional associations thrive. Leveraging the right data strategies, associations can support their missions and members by making smart decisions, increasing engagement, and future-proofing their organizations. Use these nine practical insights to guide your efforts and ensure your data management practices are targeted to success.
The healthcare meetings space is complex, and compliance will only continue to shape how sponsors engage with associations. Impact Meeting Planner, Crissy Zak, shares her takeaways from the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certification course and tips for navigating evolving compliance requirements for your next event.
