Our staff has been on top of all the latest developments when it comes to association engagement during COVID-19. It is something our team is embracing and consistently educating ourselves on. We recently sat in on a webinar put on by the AMC Institute covering virtual engagement during COVID-19. We learned quite a bit and look forward to putting these tools to good use.
Colleague Engagement. Your board might be busier than ever now with the state of the world. It is important that you do not lose their involvement with the association during this time. Be creative and offer unique experiences such as happy hours, Tik Tok video contests, and more. Remind them of the fun involved with being on the board, but don’t forget to also keep them learning. Challenge your board to learn 3-5 new things during quarantine. This could be any topic or skill that would bring value to the organization. Give them an opportunity to share what they have learned and provide plans for utilizing it in the upcoming year.
Communication. Now that everyone is at home, schedules are likely different and the separation from kids and other distractions is not as clear. Make sure the board feels open to talking about any obstacles they are facing. This will make the rest of the board more accepting and willing to step up where they are needed.
Mental Health. Although the main focus right now is on our physical health, mental health is just as important. Make sure that board members do not feel extra stress from the association. They have enough on their plates and can pass things off to their AMC or other volunteers. Offer resources to your board and members when it comes to dealing with the psychological effects of quarantine. You obviously don’t want to overstep your boundaries but you also don’t want to leave members high and dry. Be forgiving of each other and understand that everyone might not be operating the way they once were.
Technology. Not everyone has the same expertise level in technology. It is important to keep this in mind when planning virtual events and calls. Have someone available to help members out that might be struggling. This will allow them to stay connected and feel less frustrated by the changes.
If there’s one thing to sum it all up, it is be patient. Understand that people are struggling right now and their priorities are shifting. Keep them engaged with the association by offering them the resources and space they are in need of during this time.