As a human resources (HR) professional, you know the value of joining and participating in an HR professional association. It can help you network, learn, and advance in your career. But how do you help your association grow and develop, especially in times of change and uncertainty? Here are some tips to contribute to your HR community and make a positive impact.
One of the best ways to help your HR professional association grow and develop is to engage with other members. You can do this by attending events, joining committees, volunteering, mentoring, or sharing your expertise. By engaging with members, you can build relationships, exchange ideas, and support each other. You can also provide feedback and suggestions to improve the association's services and programs.
In my opinion it is important to identify your target audience and their needs.?You need to know who you want to attract and retain as members, and what kind of value they are looking for from your association. You can use surveys, interviews, focus groups, or other methods to gather feedback from your current and potential members
I agree that being a member of associations that are connected to your personal or professional area of interest can be useful. In my experience, it’s important to pick a few and not many and then invest time in using all the benefits of it, including creating a network and supporting and learning together
Another way to help your HR professional association grow and develop is to promote the benefits of membership to potential and existing members. You can do this by spreading the word, inviting colleagues, writing testimonials, or sharing success stories. By promoting the benefits, you can attract new members, retain current members, and increase the visibility and reputation of the association.
A simple way is to talk to other work-colleagues about what you learn in the association. For example: "I went to this workshop and learned that other colleagues did XYZ and achieved XYZ".
A third way to help your HR professional association grow and develop is to learn and grow as a professional. You can do this by taking advantage of the educational opportunities, resources, and certifications offered by the association. By learning and growing, you can enhance your skills, knowledge, and competencies, and stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in HR. You can also share your learning and growth with other members and inspire them to do the same.
As a member of the CIPD association, the resources (articles, publications and videos) are my super power. Having access to current trends and practices helps me stay relevant and keeps me in the know.
A fourth way to help your HR professional association grow and develop is to collaborate and innovate with other members and stakeholders. You can do this by participating in projects, initiatives, or research that address the challenges and opportunities facing the HR profession. By collaborating and innovating, you can create value, solve problems, and generate new ideas for the association and the HR field.
I think many of us work in similar environments and have similar challenges and many times we spend time and energy creating things that has already been created or solved by others. One of the biggest outcomes of such associations is to identify shared problems and cocreate or borrow solutions and thrive together
I would say that it is very critical to create a compelling value proposition and brand identity.?You need to communicate clearly and consistently what makes your association unique and valuable in the HR field.
A fifth way to help your HR professional association grow and develop is to advocate and influence for the HR profession and the association. You can do this by raising awareness, educating, and influencing decision-makers, policy-makers, and the public on the role and value of HR. By advocating and influencing, you can advance the interests, standards, and recognition of the HR profession and the association.
A sixth way to help your HR professional association grow and develop is to celebrate and appreciate the achievements and contributions of the association and its members. You can do this by recognizing, rewarding, and thanking the members, volunteers, leaders, sponsors, and partners who make the association successful. By celebrating and appreciating, you can foster a culture of gratitude, recognition, and pride in the association.