Governing for Growth: Using 7 Measures of Success to Strengthen Board Dialogue and Decision Making

Now is not a time to simply weather the storm of economic turbulence, growing scrutiny from regulators, and increased competition. Associations that fail to invest in strategies that build short- and long-term organizational sustainability will lose steam, influence, and possibly members. The best leaders need to learn to navigate on two fronts: managing the immediate, day-to-day challenges and readying themselves and their organizations for what will arise in the future. To build an organizational culture that can successfully hold these two goals in mind simultaneously requires inclusion, adaptability, innovation, sustainability, and resilience, which only a board that is engaged, strategic, and effective can engender. This book draws from the research for 7 Measures of Success: What Remarkable Associations Do That Others Don t (ASAE, 2006), which, in turn, was informed by Jim Collins s research for Good to Great (he even advised the research team for 7 Measures of Success). Governing for Growth teases out the policy and strategy implications of the seven measures and presents them to association leaders who want to take their organizations to new levels of effectiveness, influence, and adaptability. The seven measures are A customer service culture Alignment of products and services with mission Data-driven strategies Dialogue and engagement CEO as a broker of ideas Organizational adaptability Alliance building. The book presents ideas for presenting the seven measures to boards, discussing and adopting them, and bridging the gap between theory and practice, thereby serving as a guide to developing and enhancing the ability of boards to inspire and lead great organizational performance. It includes a companion facilitator s guide.