Planning for success
Edward P. Salek, CAE, Executive Director | TLT Headquarters Report March 2019
How STLE Strategy & Surveillance Teams keep us a high-performing organization.
STLE’s 2019 Annual Meeting in Nashville includes an all-day, nine-speaker technical session on electric vehicles.
© Can Stock Photo / prometeus
What differentiates nonprofit organizations and associations that have the strongest records of performance from those that maintain the status quo or even decline?
McKinley Advisors (Washington, D.C.), the association research and consulting firm that works closely with STLE, has been examining that question and is in the process of releasing a new report based on its analysis of 10 top performing organizations.
In a recent preview of the study, McKinley specified several common traits of successful associations and pinpointed one as the quintessential characteristic.
“The importance of strategic planning is a theme across all 10 organizations, although the exact definition of strategic planning varies. Most of the interviewees emphasized the importance of clear, long-term planning with an eye toward the current, as well as the future, state of the industry, the association, and society,” according to the McKinley report.
STLE’s current strategic planning process dates to 2013, when three strategic imperatives were identified based on close examination of member needs and industry trends. They are:
1.
Improve expertise of technical professionals.
2.
Advance innovation in tribology and lubrication engineering.
3.
Global advocacy and communications for the field.
In the initial phase, the Executive Committee guided the effort by developing projects and initiatives to strengthen STLE offerings in these areas. A second stage of the planning process, begun three years ago, is accelerating progress on the plan by driving the creation of tangible membership benefits relevant to each of the imperatives.
The catalyst for this transformation has been the creation of Strategy and Surveillance Teams (SST), which serve as monitors of the strategic plan. The three teams, each aligned with one of the strategic imperatives, are comprised of six directors, an Executive Committee member and a staff member. Their job is to keep abreast of internal and external forces impacting STLE, to monitor progress on existing plans and programs and to plan for what’s next by approving new projects. The results have been impressive.
The Technical Expertise SST has been a champion for what’s known as the Education 2.0 project, a multiphase workforce development initiative. Continuous improvement of the Annual Meeting technical education program is a major part of this effort. Starting at the May 2019 courses in Nashville, students will be provided full-color course workbooks, an upgrade recommended in feedback from prior attendees. The education team also is introducing a modernized Learning Management System (LMS), which will provide a more vibrant and user-friendly experience for those taking online courses.
Technology trend spotting, a critical role for the Innovations SST, was the impetus for a full-day Electric Vehicle Tribology Technical Session planned for May 20 at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. It features nine presentations by speakers representing all aspects of EV technology and is one of the first and most comprehensive programs on this topic. The Innovations SST also is guiding the development of STLE’s latest Emerging Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Report, due in early 2020.
The Communications and Advocacy SST has launched a multiyear media campaign that is communicating directly to the lubricant user in four key market sectors: transportation, power generation, metalworking and manufacturing. Strong communications and advocacy efforts are necessary to ensure our future relevance as a profession, an industry and a professional society.
STLE’s strategic plan, supported by the SST structure, is enabling STLE to claim its place among high-performing organizations and to support our members with projects and initiatives that bring our strategic goals to life.
You can reach Certified Association Executive Ed Salek at esalek@stle.org.