Over the next few weeks, I’m unpacking the habits outlined in Be the Unicorn, not just as concepts, but as practical leadership traits that show up in the day-to-day reality of association management.

My hope isn’t just that you recognize these traits in others, but that you begin to see where they already exist in you. Maybe fully formed. Maybe just an ember that’s ready to be fanned into a flame.

This week, we start with four foundational traits: Fast, Authentic, Agile, and Solver.

Fast: Why Responsiveness Builds Trust

This isn’t about being rushed. It’s about being responsive.

In the association world, speed builds trust. Whether it’s a board member waiting on follow-up, a member needing support, or a team looking for direction, responsiveness signals reliability.

Being “fast” means:

• Acknowledging quickly, even if the full answer takes time
• Keeping things moving instead of letting them stall
• Recognizing that silence often creates uncertainty

What this looks like on a Tuesday morning:
You run into a member at a conference and don’t have an answer to their question. You say, “I don’t have that answer right now, but I’m writing it down and will get back to you within 24 hours.”

Reflection: Where might responsiveness, not perfection, elevate your leadership?

Authentic: Leading with Alignment

Authenticity is about alignment. It’s what you say, what you do, and how you show up.

Association leaders operate in environments where trust is everything. Volunteers, boards, and members can quickly sense when something feels off.

Being authentic means:

• Saying what needs to be said, even when it’s uncomfortable
• Admitting when you don’t know
• Leading in a way that is consistent and grounded

What this looks like on a Tuesday morning:
You tell your board, “We didn’t hit our attendance target for the hybrid meeting this year because we overestimated what was realistic for paid participation.”

Reflection: Where might greater transparency strengthen your leadership?

Agile: Adapting Without Losing Direction

Agility is the ability to adapt without losing direction.

In associations, priorities shift. Board dynamics evolve. Member expectations change. The best leaders don’t resist change. They navigate it.

Being agile means:

• Adjusting plans without abandoning purpose
• Staying steady while everything else is moving
• Being open to better ideas, even when they aren’t yours

What this looks like on a Tuesday morning:
Your board chair suggests revisiting the organization’s vision statement at the start of a strategic planning process. It catches you off guard. Then she asks, “Who does this better than we do right now?” That question shifts the conversation, and you begin the work of refining the vision.

Reflection: How do you respond when the plan no longer works?

Great leaders don’t just identify problems. They take ownership of solutions.

Solver: Turning Problems into Action

In association management, it’s easy to get caught in complexity, especially with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and limited resources. “Unicorn” leaders move through that complexity with a bias toward action.

Being a solver means:

• Taking initiative instead of waiting for direction
• Breaking big problems into manageable steps
• Bringing solutions, not just issues, to the table

What this looks like on a Tuesday morning:
Instead of saying, “No one is attending our education programming, and no one is reading our emails,” you say, “Let’s look at the data and talk to members to understand why and test a different approach this week.”

Reflection: Are you known more for identifying problems or advancing solutions?

These four traits, Fast, Authentic, Agile, and Solver, aren’t reserved for a select few. They’re behaviors that can be developed, practiced, and strengthened over time.

Maybe you already see one or two in yourself. Maybe one stands out as something you want to grow.

That’s the work.

Next week, we’ll continue with four more traits that build on this foundation and further define what it means to “Be the Unicorn” in the association world.