Table of Contents

• Skill 1: A Desire to Build People Up
• Skill 2: Relationship Management
• Skill 3: Focusing on the Bigger Picture
• Skill 4: Strategic Planning
• Skill 5: Active Listening
• Final Thoughts

Skill 1: A Desire to Build People Up

A great association leader wants to uplift others as much as they want to elevate themselves. They want to empower all constituents of the association from members to staff to ensure there are no weak links.

Skill 2: Relationship Management

When he said, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care”, President Theodore Roosevelt provided us with one of the best of all-time insights into the importance of building connections with people.

As an association leader, being able to call on people for support and expertise is a must-have asset. It’s key to realizing your organization’s goals, and it’s only possible through fostering a network of reliable relationships.

Skill 3: Focusing on the Bigger Picture

An effective association leader must keep their ego in check and be able to focus on the bigger picture that’ll benefit everyone, and this often means making difficult decisions.

A great leader knows that leadership isn’t exclusive to an individual, but it has to be shared and carefully communicated to make an impact.

Skill 4: Strategic Planning

Successful association leadership comes from a purposeful leader who meshes with the organization’s goals and makes strategic plans towards achieving those objectives.

Leaders must be able to clearly define expectations, prioritize deliverables, measure outcomes, and create the time to plan for consistently successful outcomes over the long haul.

Skill 5: Active Listening

Finally, a great association leader listens to understand, not to respond.

Active listening is all about intently hearing what the other person has to say, respecting their opinion, and valuing their input.

Final Thoughts

As a trade association leader, you should always seek ways to improve your existing skills and learn new ones. A growth-oriented mindset will bring about new heights of success for the organization and those around you.