I would like to get members excited about my chapter or organization
Cynthia D’Amour, founder of the Chapter Leaders Playground, posted a webinar 10-7-2011. During the webinar she polled listeners and found that 93% wanted some help increasing enthusiasm for their group. Only 7% said that all their members are totally excited about their group.
Cynthia’s Point on How to Increase Enthusiasm
- Remember as leaders we have to reach out to lots of people – expand the opportunity
- Create the vision – put it into words why it matters, why it’s important. This vision statement creates an emotional connection, so use this concept all the time.
- Make sure you are paying them in value for the time they spend.
- Let each member feel part of the vision. Make sure every member can answer: Why do we exist – why are we special?
How do I get members to participate and excited?
- Request their help and support in every meeting, in every contact – remind them why they are there. Why they are giving their time
- Make the human connections – heart to heart. Why does it matter? Get me to the heart so I feel like I’ve made a good investment of my time. Make it sexy and exciting. Who are we here to serve, what we will do to help? Want a 10 on Emotional connection scale. What’s the impact on others? How pull people to us?
- Make clear for each member: What is the connection between MY presence and the mission
- Make the vision easy to explain and specific. We come together here because we do THIS….. Make sure everyone can articulate it.
- Make your members superheroes – they are involved and doing great work. It’s not about the leaders. About your members doing great stuff.
How do I use my vision statement?
- With enthusiasm, NOT by rote
- Repeat it regularly – won’t hear it the first time (6-8 exposures) – keep it fresh
- With pride – people hungry for someone to be proud of them
- Pull it from them – Esp young ones want participative model. Become skilled facilitator at having THEM articulate it so they feel ownership. People want to make a meaningful difference. Co-create it together
- At the start of EVERY meeting, every newsletter. Facebook page. Every communication. Make sure they feel connected in between meetings for the emotional glue – maybe a private group online to maintain the coolness and value of the connection
What are the biggest mistakes that kill enthusiasm?
- Don’t bother to do the above – lose emotional glue that keeps people members. Odds of creating an amazing experience go down
- Parental mode—it’s the Right Thing To Do. Especially alienates the young. Not relevant to me – don’t push and tell me.
- Forget to use the vision statements. Why does board exist? What are you trying to do this year? Why does it matter? Create pictures of the possibility to keep the emotional connection.
Questions to build enthusiasm
- Let’s talk about why this matters. If we do this well what will we hear people talk about?
- What will we see people doing?
- How will people feel?
Why should I build enthusiasm?
- Easy to do
- Payoff is better
- Members happier to be part of something big