21 Power Moves Don’t forget that AI can also help you with ideating and brainstorming. Converse with it to help you streamline your thoughts and put together your personal learning plan. Where do you want to grow? Let AI help you identify those opportunities and assist you on your path. We’re also in the relationship business, so we instinctually rely on the experiences of others. This is where the power of community kicks in. Connecting with thoughtful professionals in communities (like Association Chat!) has significantly broadened my horizons and fed my curiosities. I know in those communities there are those who are experts in areas where I’d like to grow. When I seek resources, we humbly ask. Dedicate Time to Think Controlled curiosity is our friend. Like anything, it’s important to protect time for learning and have a structure. When we attend in-person conferences, that’s an easy feat to accomplish. Typically, the schedule is laid out, we can focus on the content at hand, and our brains are free to imagine, create, and think. But it’s important to have that time to “think” at home as well. When the concept of “carving out time to think” was initially presented to me, I imagined sitting on my couch staring at the wall. In reality, this is a special time to put Teams on “Do Not Disturb” and dive into learning. For learning to be effective, I must have a lesson plan (probably because I’m married to a teacher, who is very Type A about these things). Defining objectives (what are we going to learn about today/this week/this month?) ensures the time is productive and meaningful, not an hour to slack off, scroll social media, or go down random rabbit holes. When there is time dedicated to experimenting with a new tool, researching member engagement strategies, or listening to a particular podcast episode, we are more likely to fully engage. Establishing this habit is hard at first. We are all busy, serving members and our internal staff, and initially, setting time aside for continued learning (especially if there’s no CAE credit) seems frivolous and easy to punt. Block the time and protect it. Encourage your teams to do the same. Discuss the importance of this habit with your leadership. In Atomic Habits, James Clear discusses the concept of getting 1% better each day. He states that with a 1% improvement each day, your results will be nearly 37% better after one year. Imagine if every person on your team grew their knowledge and skill by 37% in 2025. How would that drive efforts toward enhancing your members’ experiences, building staff morale, and fulfilling your association’s mission? It’s a powerful notion, and you can achieve it. Short-Term Goals for Long-Term Gains The rapid rate of change has turned the notion of an annual plan on its side. I could not have predicted the trajectory of change my career experienced. I gained new skills and knowledge that revolutionized how I work. AI came on board and changed everything. I started using it every day and worked to learn as much as I could. I also started sharing what I learned with my peers and members. This direction changed everything. I shifted my annual learning plans to monthly and quarterly plans because I had to adapt so quickly. More important than setting goals was establishing the habit of continued and productive learning and planning. The era of “set it and forget it” annual learning plans is over. We must embrace a more agile and responsive approach to professional development. By leveraging the power of AI, tapping into the wisdom of our communities, and dedicating time for focused learning, we can navigate the ever-evolving landscape of association management. Remember, continuous learning is not just an individual pursuit; it’s an organizational imperative. Invest in yourself, empower your team, and watch your association thrive in the years to come. Liz Peuster, CAE, is a strategic association leader with over 20 years of experience in communications, membership, and technology integration. Passionate about enhancing the member experience, she has led innovative technology initiatives and achieved significant membership growth at prominent associations. Committed to leveraging AI and technology to transform operations and member value, Liz continues to drive impactful change in the association sector. My Favorite Things: » Association Chat (community, blog, show, book club) » Sidecar.ai » .orgSource & The Association 4.0 Podcast » The Artificial Intelligence Show » Do This, Not That Podcast » Atomic Habits by James Clear You do not rise to the level of your goals. You all to the level of your systems. —James Clear in Atomic Habits
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