By Dara Rudick, CAE, MHQ CEO
“Let’s not go.”
With the wilderness adventure I had been planning for and looking forward to all year just a week away, I voiced to my spouse that my injured arm was still not healed and much of the trip would be sea kayaking. The sea kayaks were tandem, meaning my spouse would likely have to do all the paddling for both of us. The idea of not contributing didn’t sit well with me.
He listened attentively, as is his way, and said, “We could cancel. But I think it would be a really cool experience.”
It would be really cool!
I called our guide to let her know about my arm issue, figuring that they’d say I had to sit out on the kayaking part. To my surprise, as an outfitter that worked with folks of varying abilities, she said they could easily accommodate me.
“I really want you to join us,” she said.
It was a moment that made my heart swell. These folks had considered how to include everyone.
“We want you here.”
What a simple – and incredibly powerful – way to make sure people know they are wanted and part of the group.
In the case of my wilderness adventure, both my spouse and the guide made sure I knew that I was not only wanted there, but that they would be there cheering me on.
I went. It was amazing. And I was able to contribute.
That’s what our team does every day – accommodate so leaders can lead, and their members can have amazing experiences, and genuinely contribute. Ensuring that client volunteers and members aren’t “cancelling the trip” or feeling forced to sit it out for some reason.
As our team wrestled with ways to drive more attendance to a conference for a client professional federation whose event registration numbers were down, we brainstormed ideas to shift outreach strategy: boosts on social media, messaging specific targeted audiences, asking department heads to place flyers at their schools.
But the idea that caught my attention, while by no means revolutionary, was the one where conference committee members send an individual, personal note to a past attendee: “We want you here.”
Another level deep, an MHQ team member checks in with conference committee members, asking them how MHQ can help support their outreach work.
It will be another couple of weeks before we understand the full impact of our work to support this client’s conference attendance, but within the first three days of the enhanced approach, we’ve already seen a 10% increase in attendance.
The feeling of not only being invited, but being specifically wanted, having someone there waiting and excited to see you, can change someone’s entire outlook and transform their experience.
It helps our members and stakeholders walk into the spaces we create for them confidently, positively, ready to learn and contribute.
Who in your community awaits your invitation, “I want you here?” What type of impact could you have if you extended that invitation?
About MHQ
Driven by the vision of a thriving, vibrant community, MHQ is a woman-owned, world-class management company that delivers customized services. Founded in 2013, MHQ has provided association management services since its inception, as well as infrastructure to organizations in a range of industries. We serve professional and trade associations, as well as government and public sector entities. For more about MHQ, visit https://www.management-hq.com/.
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