02/29/2024

Building a Culture of Continuous Innovation

Empower your staff and board to take risks

One of the constant themes heard from association leaders is the priority of innovation and creating new value for members. And yet, in MGI’s 2022 Membership Benchmarking Report, less than 25% of Associations said they had a process in place for driving innovation. How can association leaders cultivate a mindset of continuous innovation? Here are three key strategies for success.

Empower Staff and Board

Encourage autonomy and flexibility. Autonomy is a powerful motivator. When the staff and the board feel they have control over their work, they are more likely to think creatively and take initiative. Flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options and flexible hours, can also contribute to an innovative mindset by allowing stakeholders to work in environments that best suit their creativity.

Offer professional development around design thinking. According to McKinsey research, design-thinking training enables more holistic and human-centric solutions. Equipping association leaders with design-thinking skills can accelerate innovative outcomes.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.