Why Members Leave and Strategies Proven to Bring Them Back
What if everything we know about membership is all wrong?
Let's face it. People no longer jump at the chance to join. It takes more effort and there's considerably more turnover. It's become the norm for associations to report losses in membership or revenue. Some organizations have been forced to downsize and others are struggling to survive.
There's no denying it. Membership growth has become increasingly difficult for membership organizations to obtain. A new strategy is needed, and Sarah Sladek introduces it in her latest book, MemberShift.
Sarah's research on membership engagement and social change is unparalleled. She began researching shifts in membership trends in the United States in 2002. She has since conducted global research, authored several books on membership, and been a consultant to organizations worldwide. Her strategic guidance has been credited with influencing significant increases in growth and revenues.
In MemberShift, Sarah makes the case associations have been misguided by borrowing best practices from business models and relying on traditions of the past. As a result, they lost sight of who and what matters most and struggled to leverage their assets.
But Sarah proves it's possible to reverse the disengagement and decline.
Whether the association is struggling to engage younger members, show value, manage change, or strategize for the future, Sarah's book delivers the much-needed insights and tools to reposition the organization for greater success.
Her book brings readers an entirely new perspective and way of thinking about membership. No other book has gone into such depth to explain membership strategy and provide practices proven to lead to membership growth.
This is the book to read if you want to improve your association's performance or realize different results.
With MemberShift, associations can stop responding to decline and focus on advancing their industries and serving their communities. With MemberShift, membership growth is possible once again.
Sarah Sladek has dedicated her career to creating cultures of belonging and inclusion and positioning organizations for growth. She has an impressive track record of turning organizations around, bringing them to a place of increased relevance, community-building, and profitability. MemberShift is the sixth book Sarah has authored. In 2007, she wrote The New Recruit, the first book to ever address the topic of membership decline. However, she is probably best known for authoring The End of Membership As We Know It, which topped best-selling charts for nine consecutive years. Sarah is the founder and CEO of a consulting firm with two divisions: XYZ University, delivering team-building and training to increase employee retention and improve workforce culture; and Membership University, developing strategies to drive membership growth and create cultures of belonging.In addition, Sarah is a sought-after speaker who has presented on stages worldwide. She is host of the Membership IQ podcast and Save the Associations web show, contributing writer for Boardroom magazine, and member of Forbes Business Council. She volunteers her time serving on nonprofit boards serving women and youth. Sarah has been recognized as a global leader in business strategy, social equity expert, Talent Economy influencer, and was named to the global list of Women Who Advance Associations. Backed by years of experience and supported by solid research, she remains committed to helping organizations plan for their futures and prosper in the new economy. www.sarahsladek.com
