Governance Inspection
Explore the structures, roles, culture and practices guiding your association.
Inspect Your GovernanceAuthor: Jim Thompson
-
Several years ago, one of my staff members asked me a very odd question. She said, “Do you eat the same meal for breakfast and lunch every day?” As I thought about the question, I became a little self-conscious because I knew the answer immediately. I thought to myself, Gosh, I am really boring and…
-
There are times in life when something new gets added to your story and you immediately realize it was not really new at all. It was just another piece of the puzzle finally finding its place. Recently, I was officially certified as an interim executive through Armstrong McGuire’s Interim Management Institute. After sharing the update…
-
This year, I will make my fourth annual pilgrimage to Key West. What is it that’s so special about this place? It’s not the white sandy beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast or the clear blue-green waters of the Caribbean. No, Key West is something unique. My very first trip to the Keys was to celebrate…
-
“A car is not just a machine; it is a story. It is a collection of memories, a witness to our lives, and a reflection of our souls.” — Enzo Ferrari Spring in North Carolina always produces beautiful flowering plants and trees. However, with that beauty comes the persistence of that crazy yellow substance that…
-
Why Thank-You Notes Still Matter I don’t know about you, but growing up, my Mom was a stickler for writing thank-you cards. I can still hear her voice on the phone saying, “Jimmy, did you remember to write your Gran and thank her for your birthday card?” I knew it was a big deal, but…
-
If you’ve ever worked in an office, you know the feeling of coming in on a Monday exhausted from the weekend. You want to sit down, fire up your computer, and disappear into your work until it’s time to go home. But there’s always that one person in the office who is always in a…
-
Over the past few weeks, we’ve unpacked what it means to “Be the Unicorn” in the association world. We’ve explored traits centered around action, mindset, adaptability and growth. This final group of traits feels especially important to me because they focus on influence, relationships and purpose. As an association professional for over 25 years, those…
-
Last week, we started unpacking what it means to “Be the Unicorn” in the association world, focusing on four traits centered around action: Fast, Authentic, Agile, and Solver. This week, we shift a bit. These next four traits are less about how leaders act in the moment and more about how they think, prepare, and…
-
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…
-
How many times do you walk past people and never even acknowledge them? Or worse, make a rude gesture because they cut in front of you in the Starbucks line or stepped into the elevator before letting others get out? And why would you even bother acknowledging anyone anyway? Most of the time, people have…