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Membership strategy. How much do we really know about it? Membership is not a recognized subject of expertise. There are no degrees, defined requirements, career paths, educational tracks, or training programs. Membership organizations employ millions of people and generate billions in revenue, yet the strategies essential to membership engagement and growth have remained largely unknown, overlooked, guessed, or left to chance. Until now. The Membership IQ is a podcast dedicated to helping a ...
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In this episode of Membership IQ, tune in to learn why Sarah Sladek thinks “band-aids” like Artificial Intelligence aren't the key to membership growth.Sarah Sladek
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In this episode of the Membership IQ, tune in to hear Sarah Sladek explain how cultivating a lackadaisical "Hold my beer" attitude within organizational leadership is dangerous. And why organizations should hold different expectations of their board, staff, and volunteers.Sarah Sladek
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This episode of the Membership IQ, Sarah details her own personal and professional experience with “crisis mode”. She also shares how leveraging stakeholders can be the key to making it through the storm.Sarah Sladek
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Welcome back! In this episode, Sarah shares her story of receiving an exclusive invitation to attend the Inaugural White House Business Leaders Summit! She had the opportunity to meet with senior Presidential advisors to discuss current issues businesses - especially small businesses, are facing today. Sarah has observed that after COVID-19, the ex…
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Join Sarah Sladek on this lively episode of The Membership IQ! Discover the emotional side of member engagement as Sarah shares her story of splurging on fabulous tortoise earrings and the buyer’s remorse that turned into a feel-good moment supporting a community cause. Learn how to elevate your association's marketing by highlighting the greater g…
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Welcome back to The Membership IQ Podcast! Get ready for an eye-opening episode where Sarah Sladek dives into the world of membership. Today, things look a bit different—Sarah’s got her shirt and earrings on backwards, all to emphasize a critical point. Introducing her new book, The Member Shift: Why Members Leave and the Strategy to Bring Them Bac…
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Join host Sarah Sladek on a journey to unlock membership engagement and understand the profound difference between treating memberships like mere products and recognizing them as emotional commitments. Through candid discussions and expert insights, we explore how membership isn't just a transaction but an opportunity to foster deep connections, a …
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In this episode of Membership IQ, join host Sarah Sladek as she delves into the crucial topic of thriving through recessions within membership organizations. With her wealth of experience in working with associations, Sarah sheds light on the often overlooked 80% principle – a strategy that could make all the difference during economic downturns. S…
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Welcome to "Failure... *Soooo* Delicious!: Embracing Innovation in Associations," the Membership IQ podcast hosted by Sarah Sladek. In this unscripted and authentic show, Sarah explores the power of failure and how it can drive innovation and growth within associations. Join her as she shares personal anecdotes, including a personal conversation wi…
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Join Sarah Sladek, recently recognized as a Woman Who Advances Associations, as she delves deep into the challenges of discrimination, from gender to age, and explores the progress made so far. From outdated bylaws to personal experiences, she uncovers the need for true cultural change within associations and go beyond token recognition. It's time …
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Join host Sarah Sladek on an insightful journey as she explores the impact of globalization and technology on membership associations on this episode of the Membership IQ podcast. Discover how associations worldwide are facing similar challenges, from engaging younger generations to addressing the workforce crisis. Through compelling anecdotes abou…
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Join Sarah Sladek on the Membership IQ podcast, where you'll learn how to improve your membership game. From overcoming fears and obstacles (such as Sarah's first time snorkeling) to achieving success, she shares her expertise and insights to help associations and organizations reach their full potential. Tune in to hear about the Ghosts and Legend…
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Pins and Ribbons and Certificates, Oh My!: Creating a Culture of Recognition (Season 2 Episode 5)
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In this episode, Sarah talks about how membership has evolved over the years and how recognition plays a crucial role in it. She shares her own experience of receiving a pin for her 10th anniversary of membership, which made her think about the lack of outreach by the association towards its members. Tune in to learn more about the importance of re…
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We are in an era of disruption. Our models, hierarchies, and practices are being called into question because there is a call for change. Our world is becoming more individualized, more diverse. In this week’s episode of the MIQ, I’m sharing best practices for how your organization can embrace change in this fluid environment. Visit us at sarahslad…
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In my work as a researcher and consultant, I’ve found that nearly all associations have struggled to attract Gen-Xers. To understand why we need to look at how this generation came of age and what they value most. In this week’s episode of the MIQ, I’m sharing three ways to start engaging this generation and the important role they play in your org…
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How do you approach change? With acceptance - or something quite the opposite? In this episode of the Membership IQ podcast, Sarah Sladek uses the weather as a metaphor for the many unexpected, uncontrollable changes that occur in our lives. She reminds her audience that resistance to change is not only futile but creating a culture of resistance a…
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Messaging matters! In this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, Sarah Sladek explains how some associations are giving members and prospective members the wrong impression. Drawing upon her work as a former journalist and member strategist, she shares examples of messaging and marketing tactics that tend to backfire - and which ones work effectivel…
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As the expression goes, “hindsight is 2020.” We’ve learned a lot in the past few years about how to pivot, but has it informed what your association is doing to plan ahead? In this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, I share a valuable exercise that has helped countless organization leaders improve their overall vision. You’ll learn how, with a fe…
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As an association leader, advocating for your organization is one of your top priorities. What many associations don’t realize is that advocacy as we once knew it may not be as effective anymore. Young people today are approaching problems as social entrepreneurs, building a following through grassroots activism, social media, and online platforms.…
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Many association leaders don’t realize it, but being mindful of your members’ experiences is the secret to growing your community. This week, I’m sharing five key ways that your association can curate a unique, memorable membership experience that will make your organization stand out in the marketplace, attracting members that will continually rei…
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As an association leader, member satisfaction is one of your top priorities. Oftentimes, new ideas can clash with established traditions, leaving your membership base at odds with one another. In this week’s episode, I am sharing how you can solve disparities between your more seasoned members and NextGen populations by creating a solid succession …
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Let’s face it - change can be scary! Sometimes, we can’t predict change (hello, pandemic!) and your association needs to be prepared with the right approach. In this week’s episode, I’m discussing how to leverage change, using it as an opportunity to help your organization evolve. You’ll learn how the right mindset and a little bit of strategizing …
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As an association leader, you’ve likely discovered that the road to success will have some bumps along the way. Your final destination? Growing your membership community and providing a robust experience for your members! In this week’s episode, I am discussing the three roadblocks that organizations commonly encounter that can take you down a path…
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We are celebrating twenty years of business this month! Over the past two decades, I’ve discovered what makes membership organizations thrive - and struggle to survive. In this week’s episode, I discuss how you can effectively combat membership decline by cultivating a sense of community amongst your members. “Equity,” “diversity,” and “inclusion” …
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Negativity can drain the energy from almost any environment, and your association is no exception! As a leader, the attitude you model is reflected in your organization. In this week’s episode, we discuss the role positivity plays in making your association more attractive to prospective members. If it’s time to build momentum within your organizat…
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From a young age, we’ve had nursery rhymes memorized that we pass down to younger generations. As the leader of an organization, I want you to commit this acronym to memory: EIOU! I developed this initialism to help associations attract, retain, and engage their members. In this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, we discuss how the EIOU tool can …
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Millennials (also known as Generation Y) are the largest and most-researched generation in history…as well as the most criticized. Unfortunately, research shows that age discrimination is alive and well in the workplace and membership organizations. Many fail to realize that Millennials (and eventually Gen Z!) are the lifeblood of your organization…
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To stay on a forward trajectory, you’ve got to look ahead! The past can teach us valuable lessons, but with dated membership approaches, you risk becoming irrelevant to current and prospective members. To keep your member base engaged (and your organization growing!), your association needs to stay ahead of the curve and on top of the latest indust…
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Is your association sharing the latest buzz with your members? Just like every bee has a role in the hive, you and your members play an important part in your association's overall operations, which includes sharing all of the incredible achievements taking place! Oftentimes, associations choose to help their communities behind the scenes, avoiding…
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Your organization might find itself with little flexibility when it comes to leadership, members, and initiatives. It’s time for leadership to bend their approach and start stretching! In this week’s episode, we look at how a carefully curated board of directors can boost productivity and profitability, resulting in a more engaged (and involved!) m…
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Every week, it seems as though a newer, faster phone comes onto the market, with the promise of exclusive features and access to more information. You may not realize it, but this tiny piece of technology and your association share more in common than you may think. In this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, we dial into your membership mission a…
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What drives people to join organizations? You may think it’s the perks you offer or the networking and programming opportunities you provide, but don’t be fooled by those illusions! Rather, members will join your organization because they genuinely believe you’ve got the magic to solve their problems. To be effective in today’s rapidly changing wor…
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There exists a widespread misconception that “young people don’t join” membership organizations. Perhaps your association has struggled with a similar mindset. I’m here to debunk this “membership myth” and share with you the ways in which you can recruit (and retain!) young members. Tune in to this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, as we discuss…
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An organization is as good as its value proposition. What kind of value are you offering your members? Do they leave the table feeling like they have been dealt a good hand? It’s time organizations assess the changes that need to be made and strategize to turn the odds in their - and their members - favor. Tune in to this week’s episode as we discu…
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A great recipe is one that uses quality ingredients, made with special care and attention, and loved by all who try it. The culture within your organization isn’t much different from that amazing dish that draws everyone to the table. What many associations don’t realize is that a great strategic plan is no match for negative culture, hence the say…
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Studies show that 80% of your organizational work should be mission-critical and member-centric, but that is usually not the case for most associations. Executives tend to wear too many hats that leave them distracted and losing sight of their mission. How are you spending your time as a leader and is it truly dedicated to your member-centric missi…
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We’ve all been there - trying to be everything to everyone. Organizations find themselves in this same position by trying to accommodate too broad of an audience. In this week’s episode, we explore your “target market,” a concept rooted in quality rather than quantity. You will learn how to add value to your organization and attract new members tha…
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To determine whether your association is genuinely evolving with the times, you may want to consider what would happen if your organization didn’t exist. In this week’s episode, we will explore your association’s “value proposition,” and consider what valuable services would be missing from your community, industry - and the world - if your associa…
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In this episode, we explore the notion of finding your niche - and how it can positively impact your membership growth potential. Most of us can relate to the practice of trying to tackle too many things at once - and therefore accomplishing nothing at all! If your organization is trying to be everything to everyone, it's hard to focus on that ONE …
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Research shows that, to some degree, change instills fear in all of us. Change, however, is integral to an association’s survival. For many membership organizations, the notion of change is disruptive…and scary! Let’s face it - altering the habits, patterns, and behaviors we are conditioned to can be uncomfortable, but it can also yield incredible …
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Sarah Sladek
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Today’s generation creates and consumes more information than any of its predecessors. Demand is on your association to provide more content and yes…entertainment! Membership is no longer a spectator sport, so what are you doing to engage your member base? In this week’s episode, we’ll learn more about how to adapt to the shifting expectations of a…
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We kick off the first season of The Membership IQ podcast by getting into the Membership is Life mindset! In this episode, I give some backstory behind my passion for multigeneration membership practices. I began to see the challenges associations face due to an apathy towards membership and the belief that members will always continue to grow. Let…
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Sarah Sladek
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