It’s no secret that association professionals wear many hats. And it turns out that type of cross-training inherent to many association roles also has team benefits: Not only is it a great opportunity for learning, but it also gives everyone in the organization a better understanding of processes and core values.

If you and your team are just embarking on the cross-training journey, David Finkel says on Inc. to begin with these three steps:

1. Start slow. “This is one of the biggest mistakes that business owners make when training their staff and one that I see every single day with new clients,” Finkel says. “When an employee wants to know how to do something or has a question on a process, you don’t have to give the full answer all at once. Think of it like watering a plant: Drip … don’t drown.”

2. Add strategic depth. “This basically refers to your company’s ability to handle situations or tasks if you or another key team member is out of the office,” he says. For example, if only one person knows how to carry out a certain task, teach a few employees how to take care of it. That way, your organization won’t have to rely on just one person for that knowledge.

3. Coach for development—not results. “Think of this like the Little League coach playing all the players on the team to help develop them, knowing that they aren’t going to win any games based on that lineup,” Finkel says. Everyone has their primary roles; cross-training is ultimately about education and getting the team more involved.

Promote Digital Accessibility at Your Organization

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). To promote digital accessibility and inclusion for people with all disabilities we put together a guide for your association to become more accessible, view here: https://t.co/CPTzpGNfRW #assnchat #accessibility #GAAD pic.twitter.com/2vB2TkevTA

— Wicket (@wicket_io) May 16, 2019

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, think about your association’s website and online community. Are they usable and welcoming to people with disabilities?

If the answer is no, it’s time to update your website. If the answer is yes, learn about how to take accessibility a step further. What new features can you implement to ensure that all people, regardless of disability, can engage with your organization online?

“When your website is accessible, it identifies to current and prospective members that your association cares,” writes Shelby-lyn Miller on the Wicket blog. “It demonstrates that you acknowledge and understand online barriers that often prevent people with disabilities to interact with or to have access to online information and content.”

Other Links of Note

Instagram might be photo-driven, but you can still have success on the platform without inspiring images, says Nonprofit Marketing Guide.

An annual report can be a vital tool in understanding your organization’s financials. The Bloomerang blog explains.

Distracted at the office? Quartz At Work shares the 15 biggest workplace disruptors.

(nortonrsx/iStock/Getty Images Plus)