---
title: "3 Lessons: Lead Through Change"
id: "39130"
type: "post"
slug: "3-lessons-lead-through-change-2"
published_at: "2017-08-01T09:40:44+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T20:02:02+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/01/3-lessons-lead-through-change-2/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/01/3-lessons-lead-through-change-2.md"
excerpt: "Ken Zielske, CAE, the director of learning at the American Association of Diabetes Educators, never says no to an opportunity."
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 » 3 Lessons: Lead Through Change

**Embrace change as an opportunity.** Get out in front of change and make it yours. Very few of us in the association world will wear one hat for even five years. I started in academic textbook publishing, moved to nonprofit publishing, and then added online learning, live events, industry standards, credentialing, and content licensing. There were times I could have said no, but I didn’t, and today I’m doing it all and more.

**Be curious.** Read widely. Try to learn something new every day. Learning a new skill, even something as simple as a new spreadsheet function, adds to your daily sense of accomplishment.

**Your team is your success.** Being a great leader is more than vision, people, process, and technology. Your team is going to make things happen—or not. The best thing that you can do as a leader is foster a culture of trust and integrity with aligned goals. Lead by example with a commitment to continuous improvement and entrepreneurialism. Create opportunities for people to explore and grow. Record a win when someone asks, “What if we did this?”

(Callie Lipkin)

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

Tags: [#Aspiring Leader](https://associationsnow.com/tag/aspiring-leader/)
 [#Change Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/change-management/)
 [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/)
 [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/)
 [#Team Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/team-development/)

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