In the association world, there’s so much talk about member engagement. And rightfully so. One topic that’s not so regularly discussed? Employee engagement.

Association staffers aren’t your typical corporate employees, as you most certainly know. These are people driven by a purpose. By your association’s mission. Folks who took the job to serve a cause. And most importantly, the people on the front lines of member engagement.

So without happy workers, there are no happy members, right? And if only 33 percent of Americans are engaged at work, as Gallup research suggests, perhaps only one-third of your members are keeping in touch with your association, too.

To combat disengagement, use the following tips to reignite the passion your association staff had when they first took the job.

Employee Engagement Tips for Your Association

Give them more autonomy over their work

Your next drip campaign to attract prospective members. A facelift to your association’s website. Planning your next big event. Each of these requires some creativity.

The stakes in a couple of the tasks are clearly high, but the message remains the same. By simply giving your team some creative control over the direction of your association, they’re more likely to bring that newfound enthusiasm to more of their regular duties at the office.

Let them be a mentor

Want to empower your employees? Let them help others.

Is there something that disengaged staffer is great at, but no one else seems to know how to do? Perfect. Give them an opportunity to shine.

Maybe they create the most engaging social media posts. Or they’re they only true power user of your association management software. Perhaps they’re your best online community manager.

Whatever the skill, the Harvard Business Review suggests that helping others for a few minutes per day makes you feel as though more time has suddenly appeared on your calendar.

That could be just the push your bored staffer needs to rediscover their zeal for member engagement.

Position workers for success

This is without a doubt the easiest tip on the list.

Help your team get great at their jobs by putting the right tools in their hands. We’re talking AMS, marketing automation or event management solutions.

Empowering your team with the data or tools to succeed should be at the top of any association executive’s list when asking how to engage employees.

Send them to a conference

Conferences provide the opportunity for professionals to discuss the latest trends and developments. Whether you’re hosting a conference or suggesting one hosted by another organization, they’re a wonderful way to accomplish the following:

• Enhance skills. Conferences offer an array of workshops, seminars and sessions that cater to various professional development needs. Your staff can attend sessions relevant to their roles and gain new skills and knowledge.
• Network with other professionals. Staff members can network with colleagues from other organizations or chapters within your association. These connections can lead to collaborations, shared resources and best practice sharing.
• Gain new ideas to grow your association. Conferences may include sessions on growth strategies, membership engagement and revenue generation. Staff members can bring back ideas and insights to help your association expand and thrive.

Overall, industry conferences serve as opportunities for association staff to enhance skills, collaborate with peers and stay informed about industry trends. From event planning to marketing, there’s something out there for everyone. Giving your team a chance to hone their skills will benefit them, your association and your members. It’s a win-win-win.

Show appreciation for their hard work

Your association’s staff members work day in and day out to make your organization successful. Just like you express appreciation for members, you should do the same for employees. Showing employee appreciation is more than a gesture of goodwill; it’s a strategic investment in the association’s success. 

Recognizing hard work will have a ripple effect that positively impacts workplace engagement, morale and overall culture. If you’re ready to demonstrate appreciation, try out these strategies:

• Personalized Thank-You Notes: Thank-you notes help express gratitude for specific contributions. To infuse this into your regular appreciation efforts, create a series of digital greeting cards that you can personalize with custom notes. Each time someone goes above and beyond, send them an eye-catching eCard with a thoughtful note.
• Recognition and Awards: Recognize outstanding contributions with employee awards, certificates or acknowledgments during staff meetings. You’ll want to highlight achievements, milestones and exemplary performance.
• Regular Feedback: Provide feedback regularly, emphasizing employees’ strengths and achievements. Let employees know their contributions are valued and essential to your association’s success.
• Peer Recognition: Appreciation from peers is just as important as manager recognition. Encourage peer-to-peer recognition programs where employees can nominate and celebrate their colleagues’ accomplishments.

By experimenting with these appreciation strategies, you’ll create a more fulfilling work environment for your association’s employees. In no time, you’ll drive better outcomes for your organization and its stakeholders.

Send out a survey

Want to know why your team has lost their mojo? Just ask.

It’s possible a focused survey on staff engagement might not generate any truthful responses. So avoid that. But you could still send out a survey through Survey Monkey or ClickDimensions asking for staff input.

That’ll help your association employees feel like part of the team. And maybe you’ll get one or two good ideas out of it, too!

Final Thoughts: Employee engagement should be a priority

There’s nothing quite as important as member engagement. But staff engagement deserves to be a close second.

You can’t serve your members without a strong supporting staff. So don’t delay. Give your team the tools they need to succeed today and reap the rewards.