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.
Rapid advances in technology, the influence of the global pandemic, and the higher standards of inclusion have all created the perfect mixture, supporting a new genesis of innovation in business. Leaders are now expected to think “outside of the box” to ensure their organization maintains a steady pace towards growth and development. But, how do you achieve this for your association?
The success or failure of an organization often boils down to the effectiveness and participation of its board of directors. That is why board recruitment and engaged members are critical to your organization's mission and advancement. While this is often easier said than done, there are effective ways to develop your board and find leaders whose perspectives, diversity, and skills advance your mission and lead you to a new level of success.
Associations run on volunteers. Depending on your industry, however, volunteers might be hard to come by. People are often working full-time jobs, taking care of their families, and maintaining a social life outside of all of that. This schedule does not always leave much time to volunteer additional time to an association, not to mention that members might belong to multiple associations!
