As I write this post, I am sitting in a gorgeous hotel with an absolutely breathtaking view of the city of Reno and the surrounding mountain ranges. But what is even more incredible than the panorama in front of me is the group of people surrounding me. Annette and I are attending the 2013 Chamber Nation Conference with more than 40 executives from Chambers across the US, and we’ve been struck by one very interesting thing over and over again. These folks are here to COLLABORATE!
Time and time again in conference settings, we see Chamber executives and membership folks from different organizations, oftentimes from different states, huddled together to work on solving problems. The conference organizers have done a great job of creating diverse sessions that educate on a variety of topics, but where the REAL work is done is in small groups that gather to discuss ideas and solutions around the lunch table or in a coffee shop or in the bar or hospitality suite. Whatever shape these gatherings take, it’s always the same; we came here to learn and the greatest opportunity for that is what we learn from one another.
It’s a familiar refrain in the Chamber world. We all realize that Chamber professionals are a rare breed; we are the ONLY ones in our community that do what we do and for many of us, the nearest “colleague” may be a hundred miles away. It got me to thinking: We all do SOME partnering to bring about change in our communities, but are we doing enough? Could we recreate this casual, learning environment in our own communities or regions?
I think we’re doing some things really well, in general. How many of these are going on at YOUR Chamber?
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Building coalitions with other local Chambers…AND bringing in other community groups to get broader consensus and wider vision.
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Working with our members to help them achieve their goals…as well as helping NON-members reach THEIR goals, too.
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Collaborating with elected officials who share our viewpoints…but ALSO reaching out to those we often disagree with to help both sides understand the issues more fully.
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Connecting with other Chamber professionals through our State organization…while reaching out to those professionals who HAVEN’T joined to try and gain new prospective and share ideas.
My guess is that most of us are doing about half of each. We reach out where it’s easy, but we don’t build the bridges where they most need to be built. My challenge to you today is to do something difficult. Step out of your comfort zone and see if you can’t forge a relationship with someone you don’t know…someone you don’t already partner with…someone who can help you achieve YOUR organizational goals while at the same time offering you the ability to help them reach their own.
No matter WHAT we’re trying to accomplish, if we all work together, it won’t take very long!
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Written by Jay Handler, IOM
As a sought-after speaker, trainer, consultant, Jay’s diverse client list includes small business, corporate brands, associations, chambers of commerce and non-profits. His clients have included Comcast Business Class, the National Kitchen and Bath Association, South Carolina SAE, Carolinas CCE, Minnesota CCE, local Chambers across the country and internationally at the Engage Mexico Social Media Conference. Additionally, Jay is in his second year as a faculty member for the US Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management. Aside from M180s core business of Recruit, Engage and Retain, Jay offers training to clients from his career background of sales, marketing and social media.
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Good stuff Jay! Recently, our school district hired a new superintendent. Our chamber, before my arrival, did not have a relationship with the district. I opened the door. Since then, we have partnered with a Real World Ready Career Day, I have presented to one of their business classes, and have read to 3 elementary classes. Great start! And we are helping each other with resources and opportunities we both need.
Enjoy Reno! We had snow yesterday! 🙂
Thanks Bill. That’s what it’s all about. Keeping building those bridges…your efforts won’t go unrewarded!
Jay
Nicely written, Jay, and your suggestion re: just listening to businesses, with a pen and a pad of paper, has been terrific and a real relief and surprise to those with whom I have spoken.
As you said, reaching out to those professionals who HAVEN’T joined to try and gain new prospective and share ideas has been helpful to me and seems to have helped more businesses join
As for working smarter, I recently heard the recommendation to “work close to the revenue line,” when trying to prioritize; I thought that made sense, too.
Thank you for the continuous encouragement and good direction!
Thanks Maria! It’s really amazing how people will put their guard up when you walk in looking/acting/talking like a salesperson as opposed to someone who can help them. We ALL want to buy…but NONE OF US wants to be sold. Come to your members as a trusted adviser and you’ll BE a trusted adviser. Come to them as a salesperson always looking for the money, and..well…you know how they’ll see you!
Thanks for the great article, Jay! In the 3+ years I’ve been involved in Chamber work, I have been extremely pleased by the way staff from different Chambers come together for support, encouragement, and collaboration. In my experience, there has been no competition over members! I always say when one Chamber wins, all Chambers win – and the opposite is true as well, which is why I believe as an industry Chamber professionals tend to stick together!
What a GREAT comment, Nikki! “When one Chamber wins, all Chambers win!” We may have another blog post on our hands. Thanks for weighing in.
Thanks for the blog! Can’t express how good it was to sit down with other Chamber Execs and learn that we’re not alone in the problems we face AND BETTER that there are folks who’ve gone over the hurdles we now face and have lived to tell the tale. Their feedback and advice has been invaluable – as are resources by great companies such as yours, state, and national chamber organizations. Thanks for all you do and have done!
Excellent post and thoughts Jay. Collaboration is the word today, as we really can’t get very much done alone.
The old days of pushing things through and leaving dead bodies scattered behind is getting less and less tenable in these partisan times. Today, coalitions of well respected entities working towards a common goal (and being open to compromise) is stronger (and more needed than the back room deal).
Thanks Frank. I think that the “Age of Social Media” is forcing us all to look at transparency, inclusion and openness as opposed to all the work that used to be done behind closed doors.