Author
Chris Vaughan, Ph.D.
Chris Vaughan, Ph.D., is cofounder and chief strategy officer of Sequence Consulting.
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Before Members Can Say Yes, They Have to Find You
When membership growth stalls, associations tend to interrogate the offer. The value proposition gets another round of focus…
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The Most Expensive Thing Your Association Owns Is the Money It Won’t Spend
The reserve policy review is usually the calmest item on the agenda. The finance committee pulls up the…
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You’re Selling Events. They’re Buying Relationships.
Your organization may not call it sponsorship. You might call it associate membership, industry partnership, or business development.…
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Your Annual Meeting is a Membership Product
Ask most association executives how their annual meeting went, and they will tell you about attendance. Ask how…
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Organizational StrategyArticle
The Bigger Risk Is What Associations Won’t Stop
Associations spend a lot of time thinking about risk, but most of that attention is aimed outward. Leaders…
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Organizational StrategyArticle
Nondues Revenue Is Not a Side Hustle. It’s the Strategy.
For years, associations have depended on nondues revenue to keep their organizations healthy, often leaning heavily on events, sponsorships,…
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Organizational StrategyArticle
While Associations Debate AI, Members Are Moving On
Most associations are approaching AI the same way they approached every other new technology—cautiously, deliberately, and a little…
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AI Isn’t the Problem. Decision Rights Are.
AI Isn’t the Problem. Decision Rights Are.
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The Membership Model Is Breaking Down—Here’s How Associations Can Rebuild It
Across the association sector, optimism is running high. Sixty-three percent of leaders expect non-dues revenue to increase, per…
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Organizational StrategyArticleOver 1 year old
The Myth of the Five-Year Plan: What Associations Need Instead
For decades, the five-year strategic plan was the gold standard. It projected discipline, vision, and control. Boards expected…
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Career DevelopmentArticleOver 1 year old
Be the First Chapter in Their Career Story
Today’s early-career professionals are entering the workforce with higher expectations and a sharper focus. As I noted in…
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Executive LeadershipArticleOver 1 year old
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: Reinventing the Association Executive for the Next Era
Austrian American pioneer of management theory, Peter Drucker, once warned, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is…
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MembershipArticleOver 1 year old
The Business Case for Inclusion: How Associations Can Sustain Growth in a Changing DEI Landscape
For associations, fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities has long been a driver of growth. But as political…
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Organizational StrategyArticleOver 1 year old
Building a Culture of Innovation in Associations
Innovation isn’t a lightning strike—it’s a garden. It needs the right soil (culture), the right tools (process), and…
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MembershipArticleOver 1 year old
Smart Moves: How AI Is Shaping the Future of Associations
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way associations operate. From predicting member retention trends to automating personalized engagement,…
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Organizational StrategyArticleOver 1 year old
Crafting a Resilient Strategic Plan in Uncertain Times
In an unpredictable world, association leaders face challenges that demand agility and focus. Shifting member needs, economic volatility,…
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Organizational StrategyArticleOver 1 year old
Embracing Agility: Lessons from the Fruit Fly
The association world is thriving. Membership is growing, events are roaring back to life, and the economy is…
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MembershipArticleOver 1 year old
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Prosperity
In 2024, associations find themselves at a crossroads: Soaring confidence and revenue can either be a launchpad for…
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Career DevelopmentArticleOver 2 years old
Bridging Generations in Associations
The future of associations lies in their ability to attract and retain the next generation. However, what worked…
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MembershipArticleOver 2 years old
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Association Leaders
Shakespeare said it best regarding association leaders: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness…
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MembershipArticleOver 2 years old
Five Breakthroughs in Membership Marketing
Traditional membership marketing is predictably low return and has stayed the same for years. According to data from…
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MembershipArticleOver 2 years old
Baby, Come Back! How to Win Back Lapsed Members and Why You Should
When a member leaves, it doesn’t mean goodbye forever. Members who have walked away may be the easiest…
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MembershipArticleOver 2 years old
Four Steps to Creating Irresistible Member Value
When we talk about member value in associations, we don’t want members to feel like we just gave…
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MembershipArticleOver 2 years old
Three Keys to Solving the Member Retention Puzzle
Everyone knows retention is crucial to a healthy membership. You can never increase your membership if you lose…
