Summer is an interesting time for association executives. By now, you may have wrapped up your biggest event of the year, giving you a clear snapshot of your financial health and operational effectiveness. For some, it’s a season of confidence and celebration. For others, there's uncertainty about whether you'll hit your annual goals. Either way, summer is a strategic moment for both reflection and action.
If you’re seeing gaps between your goals and your current results, you’re not alone. This is precisely when you need clarity, practical solutions and a plan of action to turn things around before the year ends. The good news? You still have time and, more importantly, choices.
Here are three actionable steps associations can take during the summer to transform a potential slump into success.
1. Identify your bottlenecks clearly.
Most growth issues aren’t rooted in one big, glaring problem. Instead, they stem from multiple smaller bottlenecks: lagging membership renewals, stagnant non-dues revenue streams or operational inefficiencies that quietly drain your resources. Recognizing these issues clearly is the first step to fixing them.
2. Prioritize quick wins and strategic moves.
With visibility on your constraints, identify quick wins. This might include targeted membership reengagement campaigns or streamlined operational processes to boost efficiency. Meanwhile, plan for longer-term, strategic solutions that tackle systemic issues, such as updating your technology or refining your governance structure.
3. Leverage external perspectives.
Internal perspectives are valuable, but sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from outside eyes. At MCI USA, we offer consulting support to help associations identify the specific issues holding them back — whether it’s a membership challenge, operational inefficiency, or a stalled revenue stream. Our diagnostic approach delivers practical, prioritized recommendations so you can take confident action and make meaningful progress before the year ends.
Remember: Sticking with the status quo is a choice and so is embracing change. Think about summer as more of an opportunity, not just downtime. Use this time to gain clarity, take decisive action and position your association for a strong close to the year.
Ready to move from uncertainty to confidence? Let's talk.
