Understanding the next generation of workers is key to any senior leader or executive. Today we dig in to help our listeners understand ways to better take care of and engage the Generation Z workforce and create a work environment that supports a multi-generational workforce.

Understanding The Expectations & Values Of The Workplace's Newest Generation (Article)

The landscape of the corporate jungle is changing. The playground, once dominated by millennials with their gluten-free diets and love for artisanal coffee and craft beer, is now under new management. The tech-savvy, socially conscious, pragmatically idealistic, and relentlessly ambitious Generation Z is here, and they're ready to make their mark.

Born from 1997 onwards, these digital natives are fresh out of college and stepping into office corridors across the globe, bringing with them a unique blend of values and expectations. Fear not, intrepid executives and organizations—there's no need for a crash course in TikTok dances or deciphering emoji-filled sentences. Instead, we're here to help you understand this enigmatic generation in the language you speak fluently — the language of business, corporate culture, and employee engagement.

The professional stage is set for an exciting drama with cultural shifts, technological breakthroughs, and ideological evolutions. The characters are diverse, their expectations varied, and their approach to work-life is distinctly different from previous generations. And amidst the witty banter and moments of comic relief, there are lessons to be learned, changes to be embraced, and a new narrative to be written in the chronicles of the corporate world.

As we delve into Gen Z’s world, remember: this isn't just about 'dealing' with a new generation; it's about understanding their perspectives, appreciating their unique attributes, and learning to harness the immense potential they bring to the table.

Association Events & Conferences 20-Somethings Will Actually Attend (Article)

There's a common trope that young professionals are averse to traditional association events and conferences. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is that 20-somethings are more than willing to participate in these events; they simply want them to align with their expectations and values.

For associations and organizations, this means rethinking event strategies to create experiences that appeal to the youngest members of the workforce. The last generation values the chance to expand their professional network, learn about industry trends, and gain insights from thought leaders.

The hitch isn't about attending events per se. Instead, it lies in the design and execution that often seem out of sync with their needs, values, and the ways they prefer to engage and learn.

Featured Partner: Hubspot

HubSpot is the all-in-one CRM that scales as your startup grows. HubSpot is a CRM platform with all the software, integrations, and resources you need to connect marketing, sales, content management, and customer service. Each product in the platform is powerful on its own, but the real magic happens when you use them together.

HubSpot integrates with the business software you already use and love. Plug into Stripe, Zapier, Segment, and hundreds more to extend your capabilities and grow faster. Plus, you can integrate your company with HubSpot and grow on its platform.

About EXEC

The EXEC benefits solution provides your employees or members hundreds of the finest travel, hotel, business, and lifestyle benefits designed to upgrade their lives and give them access to some of the most exclusive privileges and experiences in the world.

Learn more: ⁠⁠https://joinexec.com

Tips To Host Productive Virtual Board Meetings

The pandemic has ushered in a new way of connecting, challenging the traditional form of communication and collaboration that we’re all familiar with. Living rooms have become the new boardrooms as society has shifted to adapt to the limitations that COVID-19 has placed on us. 

While remote work has become the norm — and most employees hope it remains this way — the show must go on. Since 2005, the number of people who work from home in the United States has increased by a whopping 140%. In addition, with the rise in WFH positions, in-person board meetings have become harder to coordinate due to everyone’s varying locations worldwide.

Meetings, conferences, and events are now primarily being held through computer screens. The solution to social distancing and the key to remaining flexible is the digital workspace; it’s just a matter of navigating this new realm of functionality. 

Conducting virtual meetings removes the advantages of exchanging handshakes, eye contact, or interpreting body language. It may also be harder to maintain everyone’s attention. However, it comes with a slew of benefits if done correctly. 

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Do’s & Don’ts of Email Marketing: Preventing Email Fatigue

We’ve created this guide to email marketing etiquette to ensure you don’t cause email fatigue, a state of disengagement when members are blasted with nonstop messages that never get read. Email fatigue can ultimately lead to an increase in your list's unsubscribe rate and a decrease in engagement.

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FEATURED PARTNER: BEEHIIV

Founded by the same experts that helped build and scale the Morning Brew newsletters, beehiiv is built for creators by creators with everything needed for success without fluff or complexity.

Whether launching your newsletter or scaling the next media brand, beehiiv can help. With built-in growth tools, customizable templates, best-in-class analytics, and much more — all within an easy-to-use interface — it's easy to see why beehiiv is the fastest-growing newsletter publishing platform.

Learn more: https://www.beehiiv.com/

About EXEC

The EXEC benefits solution provides your employees or members hundreds of the finest travel, hotel, business, and lifestyle benefits designed to upgrade their lives and give them access to some of the most exclusive privileges and experiences in the world.

Learn more: ⁠https://joinexec.com

Today's episode tackles the topic of leadership head-on. We'll discuss how to build a pipeline of talent within your organization to grow and become the next managers or leaders, but also how to prepare for succession within your board, executive suite, or founder team. This is great for entrepreneurs or association executives, but also aspiring managers and leaders wanting to get ahead in their careers.

Internal Leadership Development: Orchestrating a Pipeline of Talent

Conducting a world-class orchestra and running a successful organization share many similarities. While a conductor has a vision that inspires and unifies the orchestra, everyone else has a job to do as well, needing to be able to read music, play their instrument, and listen carefully to others to give the right cues at the right time. It's insufficient for one person to be great—a system must be in place for all to work together harmoniously.

Similarly, within a business, a high-quality talent pipeline is essential to develop emerging leaders and begin succession planning. Up-and-coming executives need nourishment to prosper and create a new generation of future leaders. 

A strong growth strategy provides an established routine for developing leaders and helps these individuals remain connected with core values they learned while they were still new employees.

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Succession Planning for Founders, Executives & Board Members

Ensuring your leadership team is sustainable and committed is one of the most essential keys to operating an organization. The board must successfully manage its way through many life cycle changes. Venturing into new territory—whether it’s a new leadership position or bringing on board a new type of donor—the next generation of founders need to be guided by wisdom, not just by prior experience. 

While the transition is typically fraught with uncertainty, apprehension, and hard-to-navigate challenges, it’s a delicate feat that requires attention to detail. Therefore, succession planning should begin at the leadership cycle’s inception for a smooth change and to leave a successful legacy. 

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FEATURED PARTNER: Reposite

Group travel and event planning simplified. Reposite is the industry-leading planning tool that fuels supplier discovery on our b2b marketplace and simplifies coordination for group travel & event planners.

https://www.reposite.io/

About EXEC

The EXEC benefits solution provides your employees or members hundreds of the finest travel, hotel, business, and lifestyle benefits designed to upgrade their lives and give them access to some of the most exclusive privileges and experiences in the world.

Learn more: https://joinexec.com

A "Halloween Spooky Spectacular Special Edition" of Value Proposition dives into some fun facts to impress your guests or hosts at your upcoming Halloween parties, including how Halloween ties back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

Join us for this fun and informational episode where we share the backstory of things like candy apples, trick-or-treating, costumes, ghosts, pumpkin carving, and other Halloween traditions you likely didn't learn in school.

Top Associations with ties to Halloween

The second half of today's episode dives into some of the associations and clubs that have ties (directly and indirectly) to Halloween. We showcase associations including the Zombie Research Society, The Ghost Club, the Haunted Attraction Association, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Halloween & Costume Association, all the way to the American Gourd Society, Bat Conservation International, the National Confectioners Association. We wrap up by discussing how Clowns of America International has tried to turn a new chapter in using clowning to spread joy and laughter, despite the entertainment industry's portrayal of clowns.

ABOUT EXEC: EXEC Benefits Program

EXEC is the premier managed benefits platform for associations, organizations, and private clubs to attract, retain, and engage members.

Learn more: https://joinexec.com

Whether you're managing a group of employees as a founder or executive of a company, managing a team of employees at your private club, or leading a team of volunteers at an association or organization, you'll want to listen to this episode on building company culture, defining culture, and retaining top talent.

How Founders & Executives Can Build A Better Culture For The Team

In today's digital-centered economy, corporate culture is more important than ever. A strong workplace culture can help a business boost profits, attract new talent, deliver high-performing service, and boost overall morale. Although "good" corporate culture may sound like an intangible quality, there are tangible ways that any executive can build a thriving environment for their team.

More and more corporate leaders have become aware of the importance of having a quality space for their employees — one that is based on trust and mutual respect rather than hard-headed rules and top-down authoritarian control.

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How To Retain Your Top Talent With Competitive Benefits

Navigating the contemporary business landscape and staying ahead of your competition can be a challenging feat. New currents of industry trends, tides of innovation, and waves of market fluctuations continually reshape the environment, requiring constant vigilance and strategic maneuvering.

At the heart of this navigation lies your company’s foundation for success — its talent. As a result, recognizing, attracting, and retaining top talent have become central tenets for companies striving for sustainable success in the marketplace.

Talent management strategies have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent times. The era where a hefty salary was the traditional lure to secure and maintain top industry professionals is gradually fading into the background. In its place, a new ethos, mainly driven by Millennials and Generation Z, has emerged in the talent market.

These modern workforce demographics harbor a distinct set of ambitions and desires. They crave experiences enriching their lives, opportunities fostering personal and professional development, and a well-rounded work-life balance that recognizes and cultivates their individuality.

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Featured Partner: Calmerry for Business

In the business of your employee's life, mental health can often take a back seat. With a Calmerry subscription, your employees will work with licensed and verified therapists to take care of your mental health wherever they are.  

Calmerry offers two different types of virtual therapy options. Your employees will have access to a virtual therapy room 24/7 and can leave a message to their counselor at any time through Text Therapy. Text therapy involves asynchronous communication where you can expect that your counselor will respond to messages 1-2 times a day during their working days. You can also schedule a session with a therapist through their Video Therapy option. Using a secure therapy space with a video chat room, live video therapy sessions are held in real-time and feel more personal than text-based online therapy.

Multiple studies have found that live video therapy has the same effect as face-to-face sessions, making Calmerry the perfect solution for a fast-paced life. 

Per-Employee-Per-Month (PEPM):

A comprehensive solution for organizations seeking to provide ongoing mental health support to employees all year round.

Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG):
Ideal for businesses seeking targeted support during critical moments, such as transitioning between remote and in-office work, post-layoff assistance, or reducing turnover during challenging times. Cover the necessary therapy services your team requires only when you need them.

About EXEC

EXEC is the premier managed perks platform for companies to attract, retain, and engage their top senior executives, founding teams, and exceptional employees.

Learn more at ⁠joinexec.com

It is no question that every organization should be using KPI's that help guide their strategy and revenue. We cover those KPI's as well as dive into tips for a successful renewal season.

Measuring KPIs for Membership Organizations: An Executive's Guide

In the pursuit of running a profitable membership organization, your value directly correlates to your ability to recruit, engage, and retain members. The viability hinges upon the interplay of these three factors, underscoring their absolute importance. As such, accurately measuring, assessing, and responding to these metrics is not just an optional advantage; it's a necessity for sustainable growth.

Membership organizations thrive on member satisfaction. As the lifeblood of the organization, they infuse it with energy, purpose, and the means to pursue its mission. But members don't simply appear; they must be attracted to the program. As the first step in the member journey, recruitment lays the foundation for everything else.

Engagement is the cement that holds the bricks of membership together. It's not enough for members to just sign up. They must actively participate and engage with the organization's offerings for their membership to hold real value.

Retention, or the ability to keep members involved over time, is the natural progression of recruitment and engagement. Effective retention strategies ensure members continue to see the value in their membership and choose to renew it. Retention is often overlooked in favor of recruitment, but retaining an existing member is usually more cost-effective than attracting a new one.

This guide will explore top KPIs that membership programs should focus on to measure their effectiveness in these crucial areas and strategize for growth. By closely monitoring these metrics, organizations can glean valuable insights and make informed decisions to bolster their recruitment, increase engagement, and reinforce retention strategies.

Tips to Increase Membership Renewals

Most organizations focus a majority of their budget and energy on member recruitment; however, while valuable, membership renewals are the primary contributors to the longevity of any association. Without high retention rates, monthly cash flow can be unpredictable, and the club’s culture and reputation can come into question.

For organizations that utilize a calendar-based membership term, November to January can be anxiety-inducing. However, these are critical moments for any organization to recognize its strengths and weaknesses and plan around its renewal rate.

While expanding your club to new faces is undoubtedly essential, even the most successful organizations see an annual churn rate of 5%, with some clocking in at a whopping 10%. Additionally, according to the 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmark Report, 45% of associations saw a decline in member renewal — almost two times 2020’s rate of 24%.

Featured Benefit Partner: Plum Guide

Plum Guide doesn't list a lot of homes — just the right ones. Only 3% of homes in each destination win the Plum Award, the new global quality standard for vacation homes and short-term rentals. As an EXEC Member, you can ensure your next vacation home rental is the best in its area. 

Plum Guide has done the hard work for you. The company reviews every home available in each destination and selects the top 3% in each price bracket. Every nominated and awarded home on Plum Guide has been subject to a meticulous, multi-stage vetting process. Plum Guide Home Critics visit thousands of homes and put the best to the test, obsessing over every detail, so you don't have to. 

From ski homes in Aspen or the Alps to beach houses in The Hamptons or Greece, Plum Guide has your next vacation home, remote work hideaway, or business trip booking just a few clicks away.

About EXEC

EXEC is a plug-and-play suite of tools and resources built to run a premium member-focused organization benefits program.

Learn more at joinexec.com

This episode digs into the different ways AI is revolutionizing our lives, our workplaces, our clubs, and even how we manage our associations. Enjoy the Artificial Intelligence episode.

The Future Is Now: How AI Is Revolutionizing Member Management

About a decade ago, AI was viewed as a dystopian nightmare confined to the Fortune 500 and startups of Silicon Valley. In 2023, artificial intelligence is rapidly finding its way into the everyday lives of the masses, whether they know it or not. The future is here, and AI is making waves across all industries—including membership businesses.  

Connecting with your members is fundamental, but there's more to it than just checking the pulse via surveys and one-on-one meetings. In today’s digital world, how you and your team interact with the community is evolving thanks to artificial intelligence—or should we say association intelligence? 

Member management is the key to creating a solid foundation and overall brand for associations. However, it’s become more challenging as the number of memberships has risen, and there’s a need to meet expectations faster and more efficiently. 

Leveraging AI and your most valuable asset (member data) is the most profitable way to make these services more innovative, personalized, and efficient than ever before. In this guide, we’ll dive into how AI is changing the game to improve member service and experience. 

The Future Of AI: Predictions From Leading Tech Innovators

Picture this: you're sitting comfortably in your living room, asking Alexa to adjust the temperature, order groceries, and update you on the day's news. A robot is vacuuming, your self-driving car is waiting in the garage, and your AI-driven personal assistant is setting up meetings for the next day.

This scenario is no longer a product of science fiction, but a reality that we cannot return from, thanks to the tremendous advances in Artificial Intelligence. The rapid evolution of AI has crept into nearly every sphere of our lives. Its capabilities have triggered innovative applications, from enhancing customer service interactions to accelerating scientific research and discovery.

The scope and implications of AI's continued evolution are vast and largely uncharted, igniting fascinating debates about the societal, economic, and ethical impact it may bear.

AI's future is a topic of interest for industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers. In navigating the complexities of AI's trajectory, we often look to the insights and perspectives of those at the forefront of this groundbreaking technology.

It is the visionaries, pioneers, and leading innovators who provide a glimpse into the exciting and sometimes daunting possibilities that this technology might unfold. They share unique insights on AI's potential to redefine our world and the challenges to harness its power responsibly and effectively.

Featured Partner: Leaf

Leaf is a ‘link-in-bio’ bite-sized webpage for professionals and small businesses. Create your account through LinkedIn, and in just minutes, you can configure your custom SEO-enabled webpage featuring your news, links to socials, biography, articles, pictures, CV, and more.  Leaf is Free, but Leaf Pro, which contains features such as Calendly integration, is by subscription. 

BENEFITS

About EXEC

EXEC is a plug-and-play suite of tools and resources built to run a premium member-focused organization benefits program.

EXEC Members receive preferred pricing and other benefits with many of the services listed below—and a good deal more—with an EXEC Membership. Focus on running your club or organization and let EXEC power your best-in-kind benefits program.

Learn more at joinexec.com

This episode is the onboarding and engagement edition and focuses on how to help your association or company take the steps toward building a winning onboarding strategy that will engage your members and help your organization grow.

How to Boost Your Club's Member Engagement

Gaining new members within an organization is only half the battle; their engagement and retention are crucial factors to the success and growth of any club. Moreover, in a post-pandemic era where seemingly every activity is going virtual, leaders must revamp traditional concepts to keep their audience engaged and interested.

In order to boost your member engagement, you must define “engagement” and what it means to your organization. The next step is to develop a measurement tool to determine each member's involvement level. For smaller clubs, assessing each member on an individual basis can be the difference between a membership renewal and cancellation. Building personal connections with your team members is a value that money can’t buy.
After you’ve defined your target engagement level and the members who don’t seem to be meeting that benchmark, leaders should apply newer and proven tactics to boost interest. Different techniques based on where each person is in their membership lifecycle are critical when implementing engagement strategies.
We’ve created a brief guide to boosting your club member’s engagement.

Revamping Your Member’s Onboarding Experience

A member’s onboarding experience is a true reflection of how the remainder of their membership term will turn out — so it’s essential to make it a good one. In a post-pandemic era of reinvention and ‘remoteness,’ organizations must revamp their onboarding to remain in the race.

The standards and priorities of prospective members have shifted, with an emphasis on fostering strong rapport and making the most use of their time. Research has shown that the first year of membership is the most critical, and a robust onboarding experience can increase retention and productivity.

Without a strong onboarding process, your members won’t be fully acquainted or even aware of the benefits and resources available. As a result, a disconnect will occur, and when the renewal period rolls around, they won’t feel inclined to continue their membership. 

Featured Partner: Swag.com

Swag.com is your all-in-one swag platform. Swag.com was founded with a simple goal: to be the best place to buy and manage quality promotional products that people actually want to keep. To do so, the company curates the best of what's out there and streamlines the entire buying and distribution process. The best products on the market are offered through an industry-leading management platform that makes swag fun. Keep your clients, influencers, and employees stocked with your high-quality, branded gear.

Featured Partner: BATCH (batchusa.com)

Batch specializes in custom curating a gift that features what you care about most, be it a city (brunch from New Orleans, snacks from Austin), an ethic (black-owned businesses, nonprofit-supporting products), or a brand (yours, of course!).

Enjoy Batch’s modern take on gift baskets. Shop by interest, ethos, or maker and discover unique gift sets for birthdays, holidays, and corporate clients. They offer corporate gifts at a number of different price points that can be customized with company branding for your clients or employees. Batch makes shopping for business gifts easier than ever with customizable gift sets and our ready-to-ship boxed gift sets. 

Elevate your corporate gifting by making your business gifts feel like it’s from you. 

About EXEC

EXEC is a plug-and-play suite of tools and resources built to run a premium member-focused organization benefits program.

EXEC Members receive preferred pricing and other benefits with many of the services listed below—and a good deal more—with an EXEC Membership.

Learn more at joinexec.com

This episode is the sustainability edition and focuses on how to help your association or company take the steps toward sustainability.

Carbon Offsets: Reducing Your Organization or Company's Carbon Footprint

Environmental sustainability is the topic of conversation at every C-suite table, as it should be — and if it isn't, boy, do we have news for you! The WEF has ranked our failure to act on climate change as the world’s most significant risk. In addition, humans are responsible for most of the increase in greenhouse gasses (GHG) in the last 100 years. 

Carbon offsets are a method to promote the growth of renewable energy to counteract any personal carbon emissions. Like a form of trade, carbon offsetting balances your company's CO2 emission with investments in programs and activities that, in return, work to reduce CO2 emissions.  

Sometimes referred to as ‘carbon credits,’ these are transferable instruments certified by the government or independent programs. They represent an emission reduction of one metric tonne of carbon dioxide. Essentially, purchasing a credit enables an equivalent emission reduction elsewhere in the world — thus, net climate benefit. 

Sustainable Business Travel, Explained

The World Economic Forum ranked the globe’s failure to act on climate change as the world’s greatest risk over the next decade, illustrating the urgency for action from world governments, businesses, and individuals. 

In 2019, we emitted over 43 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The aviation and hospitality industries were found to be responsible for roughly three percent of the globe's carbon emissions. For this purpose, businesses are taking aggressive measures to reduce their carbon footprint when conducting corporate travel. 

Sustainability and eco-friendly commitments are urgent and vital responsibilities that companies are taking on to combat climate change. While business travel is an economic necessity, reducing our fossil fuel consumption is just as essential to the lifespan of the planet. 

This segment is a guide to building a more sustainable business travel program—with tips and tricks to lower your organization, private club, association, or business's carbon footprint.

Featured Benefit Partner: 1 Hotel Nashville

1 Hotel Nashville features well-appointed rooms that look out over central Nashville. Thoughtful touches will bring nature into each space, with native greenery, reclaimed materials, and organic cotton linens. 

Notable mention: United Airlines

One of EXEC’s partners, United Airlines, is committed to decarbonizing aviation. For example, they are invested in alternative fuel manufacturers, purchasing aircraft with significantly higher fuel efficiency, and electrifying their ground service fleet. 

In addition, United Airlines is the first national airline committed to investing in technology that captures and clears carbon dioxide from the air. They are also investing in more sustainable aviation fuel production than any other global airline in hopes of reducing 100% of their GHG by 2050. 

Member Retention Strategies for Organizations & Private Clubs

Organizations tend to focus their efforts and budget on acquiring new members; however, retaining existing members—and keeping them satisfied—is equally important. Some data points even suggest that it costs an average of five to twenty-five times more to gain a new member than to retain one year to year!

While growing your club is undoubtedly a lifeline to the company, even the most successful private clubs see an annual churn rate of existing members of 5%, with some clocking in at a whopping 10%. Gaining new members and maintaining your existing ones are two complementary aspects to a business, and require different strategies. 

Existing members are a crucial element in keeping your organization’s lights on. Loyal constituents will continue to support you, solidifying your club’s reputation. For this purpose, we’ve curated a list of membership retention strategies and ways to keep your private membership club’s annual attrition low.  

Listen to learn more about The Importance of Membership Retention for Your Organization

Healthy Travel Habits for Frequent Travelers

As an executive, maintaining your mental and physical health is critical, and often goes overlooked. When you add the demands of business travel during an unpredictable pandemic to the mix, focusing on your health becomes even more challenging. 

Whether it’s lack of sleep due to jetlag, the lack of time to exercise, or that hard-to-resist cheesecake at a client dinner, it can be tough to make the ‘healthier choice’ while traveling. 

Stress and fatigue, nutrient-deficient meals, excessive alcohol intake, and insufficient hydration can all impact our cognitive fortitude and physical agility. Few things are worse than feeling sick in the middle of a high-stakes meeting, miles away from home. 

Your success in the office and abroad are inextricably tied to your overall well-being. Practicing sustainable, healthy habits both at home and on the go is imperative. Below, we’ve curated some of the most common unhealthy travel mistakes, and some healthy habits to swap them with for a successful business trip.

Listen to this episode to hear more about A Traveler’s Guide — Unhealthiest Mistakes vs. Healthy Habits

EXEC Featured Partner: FlexIt

FlexIt is an "Interconnected Health" platform that delivers live 2-way private wellness and fitness sessions to consumers. All sessions are led by certified personal trainers, nutritionists, physical therapists, and coaches from a variety of modalities, accessible from any device, Wherever, Whenever®.

About EXEC

EXEC is a plug-and-play suite of tools and resources built to run a premium member-focused organization benefits program.

EXEC Members receive preferred pricing and other benefits with many of the services listed below—and a good deal more—with an EXEC Membership.

Learn more at joinexec.com