--- title: "Daily Buzz: What Elmo Can Do for Associations" id: "44939" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-what-elmo-can-do-for-associations" published_at: "2018-12-06T21:28:18+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:14:58+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/06/daily-buzz-what-elmo-can-do-for-associations/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/06/daily-buzz-what-elmo-can-do-for-associations.md" excerpt: "Meetings can easily get sidetracked. The ELMO technique can reign in the conversation and keep the meeting productive. Also: Let data guide organizational tech improvements." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Aspiring Leader" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Data Organization" - "Meetings" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "productivity" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: What Elmo Can Do for Associations We’ve all been in meetings that go off the deep end—that is, a meeting that gets undeniably off topic to the point of no return. That’s where ELMO comes in. “No, I’m not talking about the cute red Muppet. ELMO stands for ‘Enough! Let’s Move On,’” [says nonprofit thought leader Beth Kanter (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bethkanter.org/elmo-technique/) . “It is a ritual or organizational norm that can be used during meetings to avoid unnecessary discussions that don’t support the meeting objectives.” To use the strategy successfully, Kanter suggests instructing people to silently raise their hands if they notice the conversation veering toward a rabbit hole. Then, as people notice that someone has his or her hand up and is not talking, they should also raise their hands. As more participants join in, it will become obvious to any time-wasters to steer the conversation back to the intended topic. “Another way to accomplish this is to assign the role of ‘Rabbit Hole Monitor,’” Kanter says. “The rabbit hole monitor is someone who is tasked with making sure discussions on one topic do not drag the whole meeting down a rabbit hole. If people are digressing or spending too much time on a topic which doesn’t merit the discussion, the rabbit hole monitor stops the discussion and brings the meeting back on track.” Thus, your meeting is instantly saved—and more productive—all thanks to ELMO. ### Leverage Data to Understand Tech Needs > “The more you can use data and research to match those technology cycles internally, the more seamless your improvements can be.” [@hrothmann (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hrothmann?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > discusses the value of developing an iterative methodology when facing technological improvements. [https://t.co/E2dE1PEpQX (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/E2dE1PEpQX) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#grow (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/grow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/wWKeJ8PVbZ (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/wWKeJ8PVbZ) > > — Sidecar (@sidecarglobal) [December 6, 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/sidecarglobal/status/1070679009644695553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Implementing organization-wide technological improvements** starts with data. What does your association need to succeed, and what can technology do to get it from point A to point B? To answer this question, look at your processes and talk with team members to get a more robust understanding of internal processes. “Having that user research helps start off iterative conversations,” [says Harry Rothmann in a post for Association Success (opens in a new tab)](http://associationsuccess.org/article/how-to-improve-technology-the-agile-way) . “No process is too small to rethink how you do things. It doesn’t have to be about building a whole new website. If you can rewire the everyday processes that take up your staff’s time and energy over many different tasks and functions, overall your organization can benefit.” Then, come time to execute technology changes, leverage what you learned. “Use your iterative steps as opportunities for corrective action,” Rothmann says. ### Other Links of Note **Email can improve** your marketing strategy, and it can amplify your social strategy too. [The Sprout Social blog explains (opens in a new tab)](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/email-marketing-amplify-social/) . **Looking to engage** with more people in their 20s? One 20-something offers [advice on how to best connect with the generation (opens in a new tab)](https://nonprofithub.org/nonprofit-marketing-plan/how-to-connect-with-young-people/) , from Nonprofit Hub. **Ask these five questions** [to ensure your next project is met with success (opens in a new tab)](https://bloomerang.co/blog/5-questions-to-ask-to-ensure-nonprofit-project-success/) , says the Bloomerang blog. You might be thinking of this Elmo, but we have another one in mind. (Richarles Moral/Pexels) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Aspiring Leader](https://associationsnow.com/tag/aspiring-leader/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Data Organization](https://associationsnow.com/tag/data-organization/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) [#productivity](https://associationsnow.com/tag/productivity/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [ArticleBack to Basics: Why Relationship Building Is the New Innovation for Future-Proofing Association MeetingsSeptember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/15/back-to-basics-why-relationship-building-is-the-new-innovation-for-future-proofing-association-meetings/) - [VideoASAE DELP Reunion 2025 & Introduction of New ClassAugust 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/18/asae-delp-reunion-2025-introduction-of-new-class/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F12%2F06%2Fdaily-buzz-what-elmo-can-do-for-associations%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !