Author
Mark Athitakis
Mark Athitakis, a contributing editor for Associations Now, has written on nonprofits, the arts, and leadership for a variety of publications. He is a coauthor of The Dumbest Moments in Business History and hopes you never qualify for the sequel.
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Marketing / CommunicationsArticleOver 5 years old
Innovation: How One Association Leads on Data
Innovation is about ideas and passions, but ISACA succeeds with it by putting research first.
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AdvocacyArticleOver 5 years old
How to Help Advocacy Resonate With Leaders
The National Association of Manufacturers has launched program that educates its top members on government relations. It’s an…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Succession Planning: Is Your Association Ready?
Associations may avoid talking about succession planning. But it’s an increasingly important—and strategic—conversation to have.
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Executive LeadershipArticleOver 5 years old
Association Executives: Four Tips for Thinking About Tech
Technology is one of a universe of things an association executive needs to stay on top of. But…
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Executive LeadershipArticleOver 5 years old
How Leaders Can Be Strategic About Technology
Association executives can't know everything. And it often seems like technology is the thing they know the least…
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Executive LeadershipArticleOver 5 years old
Leadership Style: The Upside of Unlikability
Not everybody is going to love you as a leader. Does that mean it’s OK to be disliked?…
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Organizational StrategyArticleOver 5 years old
Technology and Strategy: Connect the Dots
Technology is tightly linked to an association’s strategy and budget, and staff and members use its tech infrastructure…
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Executive LeadershipArticleOver 5 years old
Why Do Employees Resist Self-Management?
Zappos’ recent shift to “holacracy” hasn’t been easy. One expert says associations can pull it off---if it’s handled…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
No, Nonprofit Boards Aren’t Ineffective
A new Stanford survey delivers some serious criticism of nonprofit governance. But not all is as dire as…
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Marketing / CommunicationsArticleOver 5 years old
China Crackdown: Why Links Matter in a Crisis
A crackdown on golf courses in China has helped one association see why connections in the country are…
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Career DevelopmentArticleOver 5 years old
Can Mentoring Programs Improve Your Association’s Bench Strength?
According to a new study, effective mentoring programs can groom newer members for volunteer leadership as well as…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Who Observes Your Reserves?
Everybody feels invested in an association's finances. Which isn't always a good thing. Eight years ago, Dale Blackwell…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Bitcoin Foundation: Avoiding a Toxic Board-CEO Squabble
A public disagreement between the Bitcoin Foundation’s executive director and board leader is an object lesson on setting…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Keep Your Board Minutes Brief
Once during his tenure as executive director of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Chris Mahaffey,…
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Marketing / CommunicationsArticleOver 5 years old
Turning Your Mission Into a Message
Future employees want a clear sense of your association’s mission. So do those who work with you now.…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Does Your Board Have a TMI Problem?
At smaller associations, the board often makes the financial decisions. Are your reports to it relevant, or a…
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OperationsArticleOver 5 years old
Reserves: How Much Is Enough?
It’s common practice in associations to say that an association should plan on having reserves large enough to…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
Board Smarts: Minimize Minutes to Maximize Board Reports
Why you should keep board reports brief.
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
The Case for Training Staff on Governance
Your next board members likely aren't on your staff. But you might still benefit from training them in…
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Career DevelopmentArticleOver 5 years old
A Four-Question Performance Review? Not So Fast.
A consulting firm’s new performance review process seems amazingly efficient. But a handful of questions alone won’t make for…
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
A Simple Way to Keep Boards Smart and Nimble
Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro doesn't get hung up on process when it comes to finding board…
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Career DevelopmentArticleOver 5 years old
Staff Retention: Will Your Best People Stick Around?
The association data in a recent report on nonprofit staffing suggests that associations may have a harder time…
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Executive LeadershipArticleOver 5 years old
Leadership Training With a Personal Touch
Why one association is setting up shop to handle individualized board consulting and CEO searches.
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GovernanceArticleOver 5 years old
The Board’s Role in Onboarding a New CEO
New CEOs are often told they have big shoes to fill. But the challenge isn't really about size,…
