Every association faces moments of crisis. It’s how you react that determines your success.

That, and more, in today’s Lunchtime Links:

Stay graceful: Writing for Forbes, contributor and business consultant Mark Evans highlights the importance of staying graceful under pressure. Evans tells the story of a business owner who, in the midst of a crisis, stayed rational and took the necessary steps to correct his company’s mistakes. “For my client, the right moves included apologizing publicly for what had happened and reaching out to customers who had been impacted,” he writes. “They didn’t try to hide or place the blame on a particular issue or person. Instead, they stepped up and took the heat, while promising their customers and investors it wouldn’t happen again. By showing grace under pressure, the company managed to calm the situation and reduce some of the damage.” How does your association handle moments of crisis?

One day at a time: Ask Alexa von Tobel, founder of online financial planning service LearnVest, about strategic thinking and she’ll tell you the key is to see the whole picture, big and small. “My personal motto really is ‘take it one day at a time,’” she said at the Grow Your Company Conference, recorded by Inc. Live. “You can’t get ahead of yourself. You can’t forget your strategy.” Think about what your association wants to accomplish in three years, but don’t forget about what it needs to do this week, she says.

Inspiration is everywhere: Looking for new ideas to grow your association? Don’t be afraid to look at your competition. Steve Drake, president of association consultancy SCD Group, Inc., notes the importance of competitive research. “When you are stumped about association membership or association publishing or association governance, look around,” he writes on his company’s blog. “What can you steal from others who have had success?” It’s OK to borrow ideas you learn about during your research. Just make sure you “tweak it to fit your organization and its needs.”

Where do you find new ideas? Let us know in the comments.

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