Effective follow-up in associations is more than sending another email or checking in after a meeting. It’s about understanding people.
Reading the room (or email, or situation) is the most important thing when it comes to following up, especially within associations. Association Boards and committees are made up of people with different professional backgrounds, leadership styles and priorities, and everyone may see the same situation differently. That’s why knowing how to communicate with those different people is an essential skill. Strong follow-up is not simply about persistence; it’s about understanding people, reading situations carefully, and adapting your communication style accordingly to get specific things done.
We’ve all been in situations where someone does something that makes us feel awkward or embarrassed for them, and you ask yourself how they could have done that when it was obvious that the situation wasn’t calling for it, or it wasn’t the right choice.
You don’t want to be the person at an association event who is lacklustre. To avoid that, here are some types of boards and committees to help you understand how to work better with each of them.
Types of Boards and Committees and How to Follow Up with Them
I wrote about this in my last post, “The Art of the Follow-Up “ but I wanted to do a deeper dive.
It seems simple at first glance; just listen to people, but it is harder than that.
Some people are direct and say exactly what they mean. Others take a more round-about way, and you need to ask leading questions to get the information you need. The third group of people talk at length without saying anything, which then causes you to read between the lines.
Direct Type
These are the easiest people to listen to, because they say exactly what they mean. If they say they want the next association event to be online, that’s what they want.
The Direct type can sometimes come across as brusque or gruff, but it’s not their intention. They don’t see the need to waste words on niceties when there are decisions to be made. These kinds of communicators help move things along and keep meetings from being stuck in the weeds.
Round–abouters
These represent the majority of the Boards and Committees you will be working with and are still easy to read. These are the ones that come up with good questions in board meetings that can take you longer to answer and create great discussion. They often want to know the how and why behind decisions in order to help make the event better.
Read-between-the-liners
The most challenging to listen to because you must listen to what they are saying and what they aren’t saying.
They oftentimes give you clues to how they feel about a particular issue without voicing it. Building relationships is key with these types of communicators because the more you communicate with them, the more you will understand their unspoken thoughts. With this group, it’s important to ask follow-up questions several times, listen carefully, and consider doubts and details that might be easily dismissed with the other two groups.
Keep in mind that if you’re working with a board or committee like this for the first time, patience is a virtue you’ll need.
Clear Communication Is the Key to Everything
We all have our own ways that we like to communicate, but it’s equally important to communicate with people in the style they prefer.
That no-nonsense board member may not want a lengthy discussion; they simply want clarity on the next decision that needs to be made. Your board chair, who always has questions, wants to make sure they understand the context before giving you an answer, and maybe, the association coordinator hasn’t come out and said it, but has a question about something that happened at the last meeting. Go follow up with them.
A colleague talked more about communication in this article about Effective Communication in Associations.
Strong association leaders know that communication is succinct and tailored for each audience and their needs. The best follow-up doesn’t only continue the conversation; it strengthens and fosters relationships, builds trust and helps people feel understood.
As always, read the room.
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