AuSAE - 4 Tips on How to Get Your Staff (and Board) to Work Together

4 Tips on How to Get Your Staff (and Board) to Work Together

20 Sep 2016 12:02 PM | Deleted user

Membership is a team sport. It cannot be achieved alone.

But let’s face it, working with people is tough. Even if you’re a small-staff association, you still have several opinions to take into consideration, not to mention, those of your board. And with so many ideas/opinions floating around, it can be hard to land on one, meaning your association can’t move forward.

Not good.

So how do you eliminate silos within your organization and get everyone to work as a team? Here are a few tips:

1. Set goals (and frequently refer back to those goals)

Sometimes, when people are working in silos, they’re working towards different goals. It’s very easy to do. I mean, how often do you get lost in your day-to-day responsibilities? But if you really want to move your organization forward, it’s important that you’re all working towards the same goals.

To do that, clearly define your current and future goals and refer back to those when meeting/making important decisions.

2. Define roles

Now this is important for a number of reasons. First, you need to know who your decision makers are so that you can collect feedback and determine next steps accordingly. But also, you need to have leaders in place to keep the team moving forward. Without leaders, it often seems that people take a passive approach - and that’s not good for reaching goals.

3. Encourage creativity

Regardless of who your decision makers are, everyone should have a voice. Brainstorming and creativity are what spark the BEST ideas. That said, give everyone an opportunity to speak and encourage unique and transformative ideas.

4. Communicate

No matter how you spin it, the root of effective teamwork is communication. If you want your staff (and board members) to work efficiently together, you need to keep everyone in the loop. You need to keep people updated about current projects, future projects, and more importantly, why certain decisions were made (particularly if there were different opinions about it).

The more people know, the more included they’ll feel, and the more willing they’ll be to help. (Plus, the value of those ideas will improve.)

Teamwork is what it takes to successfully manage your organization - but that doesn’t make the management process any easier. If you need help with membership management, particularly when it comes to member acquisition, engagement, and retention, check out our free Membership Management Guide below!

This article was originally sourced from Association Universe and was written by Callie Walker.

Strengthening Trans-Tasman Connections: AuSAE and Tourism New Zealand Business Events Renew Partnership

Association professionals across Australia and New Zealand have even more reason to explore trans-Tasman opportunities. AuSAE is proud to announce the renewal of its longstanding partnership with Tourism New Zealand Business Events, celebrating 11 years of collaboration.

For over a decade, this partnership has strengthened connections between the two countries, helping associations expand networks, share knowledge, and deliver world-class events.

Toni Brearley, CAE, Chief Executive Officer at AuSAE, said:

“Our partnership with Tourism New Zealand Business Events has opened doors for association leaders to plan unforgettable events and connect with peers across the Tasman. Together, we’ve created opportunities, shared knowledge, and elevated the experiences of our members and their delegates. This partnership reinforces our commitment to fostering strong trans-Tasman collaborations, helping associations innovate, grow, and deliver outstanding value to their members.”

Helen Bambry, Business Events Manager at Tourism New Zealand, added:

“Partnering with AuSAE means we can directly support association professionals in bringing their next international business event to New Zealand – offering assistance, funding, and support to ensure exceptional experiences for both organisers and delegates.”

Watch the Tourism New Zealand Business Events video

What this partnership means for you

For Australian associations:

Receive expert guidance and support to bring conferences or member events to New Zealand.
Access funding assistance through Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
Expand your network and build partnerships with New Zealand peers and industry leaders.
Deliver international experiences for members and delegates just across the Tasman.

For New Zealand associations:

Strengthen professional connections with Australian association leaders through AuSAE’s network.
Share expertise and collaborate on professional development, governance, and member engagement initiatives, and more.
Gain visibility within the broader association community in Australia and New Zealand.
Access opportunities to host international association events and delegates in New Zealand, boosting local engagement and knowledge exchange.

About AuSAE:

The home for association professionals, the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) is the leading - and only not-for-profit, member-based - organisation supporting association professionals in Australia and New Zealand. For 70 years, AuSAE has been a trusted partner for those working in associations, providing professional development, support, and networking to help association leaders achieve organisational goals, advance their careers, and strengthen the wider sector.

About Tourism New Zealand Business Events:

Tourism New Zealand Business Events provides expert guidance, funding, and support to attract conferences, incentives and corporate events to New Zealand.

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For more information about AuSAE, please contact Toni Brearley, CAE:
Toni Brearley, CAE
Chief Executive Officer, AuSAE
E: toni@ausae.org.au
T: + 61 458 000 155

To apply for funding and support to host a conference in New Zealand contact Helen Bambry:
Helen Bambry
Business Events Manager, Tourism New Zealand
E: Helen.Bambry@tnz.govt.nz
T: +61 415 933 325

The Australasian Society of Association Executives

Contact us:

Email: info@ausae.org.au
Phone: 1300 764 576 (within Australia)
Phone: +61 7 3268 7955 (outside Australia)
Address: Unit 6, 26 Navigator Place, Hendra QLD 4011, Australia