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Learning and Development

Resources Roundup: Leadership Builders

In this article:
These ASAE resources—from research and books to learning and articles—will make you a better and more effective leader.

Books and Research

Learn about larger trends affecting association leadership and governance

ASAE ForesightWorks

ASAE’s future-focused environmental-scanning research initiative identifies 50 drivers of change important to associations. Each is described in an action brief that examines its implications and offers ideas for steps associations can take to respond to the trend.

Association Investment Policies, Practices, and Performance – 2022-2023 Edition

Need help evaluating your association’s investment-reserves policy, strategies, and practices? The data in this downloadable report are primarily organized by reserve size and include performance metrics captured in the 2014–2023 studies, as well as policy benchmarks captured in previous studies. Other topics covered by the report include investment policy governance, investment strategy, and asset allocation. Use the data to identify areas where improvements can potentially be made or that may require further analysis and discussion.

Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations, 10th Anniversary Edition (2021)

By Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers, CAE

An ASAE bestseller updated for a pandemic-altered world, this new edition serves as a guidebook for association staff and volunteers leading and making decisions for their organizations in a dramatically changed environment. Practical tools like worksheets, checklists, and case studies help you kick off thought-provoking discussions.

Recruit the Right Board: Proven Processes for Selecting Critical Competencies (2019)

By Mark Engle, FASAE, CAE, and William Brown

This book provides CEOs with a framework for recruitment, nomination, and selection processes to build a board with the right mix of skills, knowledge, and other characteristics to perform optimally.

Learning Opportunities

Professional development suited for association execs at every level

AI Summit

ASAE’s first-ever AI Summit will be two packed days of educational content designed for association professionals. Leaders in all sectors are recognizing that AI has the power to transform not only their business but their industry. Attend this virtual event to get a sense of the state of AI in associations, evaluate what your organization’s next steps should be, and more.

CAE Kickoff

Are you ready to pursue the Certified Association Executive designation but don’t know where to begin? The Kickoff is your first step. This program will help you assess your knowledge of the content, sort out what is and is not covered on the exam, identify content areas you need to focus on, and even rediscover the joys of test-taking.

CEO Symposium

This program provides an opportunity for CEOs and their board officers to define annual priorities and determine how to work better together. The two-day, in-person symposium also explores challenges facing contemporary leaders and highlights the value of informed policy and strategy as primary tools of the leadership team.

Exceptional Boards

For CEOs and elected board and committee officers, this intensive workshop provides participants with the insights and resources they need to build a high-performing board that understands its role, fulfills its responsibility, demonstrates visionary leadership, and leads the organization to new heights.

Related Articles

Additional must-read content from asaecenter.org and associationsnow.com

Can You Weather a Leadership Crisis?

The recent chaos at OpenAI has put a spotlight on splits between boards and CEOs. It’s a reminder to keep your eye on mission—and check egos at the door.

How Do the Salaries of New CEOs Compare to Their Predecessors?

Recent research by ASAE’s Executive Compensation Study team reveals that half of new CEOs earn less than their predecessors. The data also looks at factors that influence salary, including organizational revenue and candidate experience.

Report: Association Execs Have Long-Term Concerns About Economy, AI, More

A newly released McKinley Advisors report identified the five most prominent trends facing executives in the next decade.

The Power of a Leader’s Story

What your association does involves more than numbers. Experts say stories about what you do and who your organization supports can do much to persuade and inspire.

Three Ingredients for Effective Performance Leadership

Having difficulty navigating performance reviews with staff? Association leaders need to provide the right conditions for staff to take ownership of their own performance. Learn three steps required to create the conditions necessary for successful performance leadership.

Samantha Whitehorne

Samantha Whitehorne is editor-in-chief of Associations Now.

More from Learning and Development

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Just because you’ve reached the top of the ladder doesn’t mean it’s time to stop learning. To effectively lead their organizations, champion innovation, and tackle the unique challenges they face, association CEOs need to make time for professional development opportunities.