Other People See Connections You Don't

I attend a lot of conferences and workshops. I attended one last week and I'm attending another one this week. In fact, looking ahead on my calendar, I've got six more conferences or workshops to attend before the end of the year.

Obviously, it's a big part of my job. And, as was brought home to me at the conference I just attended, one of the big advantages to all this time out of the office is getting a chance to hear what other people think. Because, frequently, what other people think is not what I think. We're at the same conference for the same reasons, but they are coming from a different place and have a different take on it than I do.

That can sometimes get uncomfortable. Association members -- or at least members of my association -- can be painfully direct and honest. If they don't see the value in what your association is offering, they have no compunction about telling you. And their advice for improvement is also as freely given. Divorced as their comments may be from the resource realities of your organization, they're going to let you know what you should do.

It's always best, in my opinion, to accept this kind of feedback with respect and graciousness, and then use the opportunity to engage the member in some open brainstorming. You say you want X, but the association can't afford X. What is it about X that makes you want it? What is the need you have that X would help fill? Are there other ways to meet that need? To deliver the value you seek?

Getting a member into this headspace can be extremely beneficial. Because they are different from you, because they have different perceptions, and see different connections, there's no telling what kind of elegant solution is going to arise from these open and honest discussions.

It happened this past week and, if I'm lucky, it'll happen at each of the six conferences and workshops I have between now and the end of there. Six new solutions to six old problems? That's something that's worth getting on all those airplanes.

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This post first appeared on Eric Lanke's blog, an association executive and author. You can follow him on Twitter @ericlanke or contact him at eric.lanke@gmail.com.

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