Indiana Chamber Executives Association
  • Membership
    • Member Directory
    • Leadership Circle Investors
    • ICEA Associate Members
    • Membership Application
    • Member Login
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • Board Resources
    • Executive Consultation
    • Hoosier Chamber Academy >
      • Hoosier Chamber Academy Class of 2021-22
      • Hoosier Chamber Academy 2023
      • Hoosier Chamber Academy Class of 2020-21
    • Careers
    • COVID-19 Resources For Chambers & Businesses
    • ICEA Board Resource Portal (log-in for ICEA Board)
  • Professional Development
    • All Things Chamber Webinar Series (ICEA)
    • Annual Awards >
      • 2025 Awards
      • 2024 Awards
      • 2023 Awards
      • 2022 Awards
      • 2021 Awards
      • 2020 Awards
    • Professional Consultation
    • Scholarships
    • Professional Designation
  • Events & News
    • Calendar
    • Annual Conference >
      • 2025 Conference Attendees
    • Hoosier Chamber Academy
    • Chamber Day At The Statehouse
    • Leadership Summit
    • National Civics Bee
    • News
    • Blog
  • About Us
    • Leadership Team
    • History
    • Contact
  • Membership
    • Member Directory
    • Leadership Circle Investors
    • ICEA Associate Members
    • Membership Application
    • Member Login
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • Board Resources
    • Executive Consultation
    • Hoosier Chamber Academy >
      • Hoosier Chamber Academy Class of 2021-22
      • Hoosier Chamber Academy 2023
      • Hoosier Chamber Academy Class of 2020-21
    • Careers
    • COVID-19 Resources For Chambers & Businesses
    • ICEA Board Resource Portal (log-in for ICEA Board)
  • Professional Development
    • All Things Chamber Webinar Series (ICEA)
    • Annual Awards >
      • 2025 Awards
      • 2024 Awards
      • 2023 Awards
      • 2022 Awards
      • 2021 Awards
      • 2020 Awards
    • Professional Consultation
    • Scholarships
    • Professional Designation
  • Events & News
    • Calendar
    • Annual Conference >
      • 2025 Conference Attendees
    • Hoosier Chamber Academy
    • Chamber Day At The Statehouse
    • Leadership Summit
    • National Civics Bee
    • News
    • Blog
  • About Us
    • Leadership Team
    • History
    • Contact
 

Pandemic: Opportunities for Improvement

5/10/2020

2 Comments

 
Guest Blog from Bob Harris, CAE and Arturo Mariani, Life Coach

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before,” said Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel.  

​Now there are hundreds of stories about chamber of commerce and personal improvement during the pandemic.   People are sharing ways they are adapting.   

Organizational Improvement
Many of the changes have positive, long term impact.  The adaptations are necessary or organic to survive, sustain, and thrive. 

For example, what used to be a day-long board meeting requiring hours of travel, is being replaced by a video conference.   Groups that shied away from on-line technology are rethinking the concept, realizing governance decisions can be made without the expenses of in-person meetings, meals, and travel. 

Regarding staffing after the government closed offices, employees and their bosses might have thought working remotely would not work.   At first it was awkward without guidelines and technology.  Now it is being embraced to save time, be effective and add quality of life without the hassles and costs of commuting.   Could it be the new normal?

At the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS®, in California, CEO Wyndi Austin, CEO,  said that employees have been able to collaborate and complete projects that often were set aside by the urgencies of the day when they worked in the office. 

Associations and chambers of commerce serve as platforms for sharing concerns and learning how others are surviving.    Among others, Wyoming and Minnesota chamber executives are sharing by webinars frequently.    

The Colorado Society of Association Executives transformed its May membership luncheon to an online forum, including break out groups. The meeting was an hour of questions and encouragement.  For instance, while some associations were thinking of foregoing dues billing for a year, others explained how they had become indispensable to members and recruitment was up. 

Business associations and chambers in the Republic of Georgia amplified their advocacy by creating coalitions and sharing challenges through webinars.   

Organizations are improving by evaluating activities, transforming events, and creating new services for members.  Many of these will be lasting enhancements for chambers and associations. 

Personal Improvement
For individuals, do not let the crisis paralyze you. Be proactive instead of waiting for the situation to pass.  Many executives have kept blogs or written about how the pandemic has affected them.

Anastasia Baklan, a communications specialist at the Center for International Private Enterprise office in Ukraine, wrote about five ways the pandemic has changed life for the better.   Among them, development of women in business, increased use of technology for learning, and personal development. 

Some people suppress their thoughts instead sharing.  They might think they are alone, or nobody else will care. During social distancing and isolation, communication can be a real gift.  

Do not stifle sharing for fear of the reactions.   What you share can enrich others, offering solutions and help.  Knowing how others are coping can have a powerful positive impact.  

By sharing and writing we lighten our own fears.   All people need opportunities to express themselves. Many are fearful of taking the first step of sharing their experiences.

Receiving knowledge enhances personal understanding and self-confidence. The reader opens themself to new ideas.  

The pandemic may be a good time for making improvements.   Through sharing, blogging, writing, and reading, the possibilities expand.  You have the power to give others encouragement through this difficult time.

This moment teaches us about sharing and adapting. We do our best and realize what is beyond our reach, such as grief, economy, and pandemic.  

#   #   #

Note: Bob Harris, CAE, provides free governance tips and templates at www.nonprofitcenter.com.   Arturo Mariani is a speaker, author, athlete and life coach in Rome, Italy.  He can be contacted at [email protected]. 
2 Comments
Bob Harris, CAE link
5/11/2020 08:23:32 am

Making changes and improvements in the organization and in people, written with a life coach' perspective from Italy.

Reply
William Pawlucy link
5/19/2020 09:09:37 pm

Arturo and Bob, excellent article. You sum up very well the ability, during any life changing event, to make significant changes and improvements. This is the time for chambers to be out front and providing value to its members. Well done and special thanks to Arturo from Italy. Great, great work. Do you speak at Chamber events? I think you would make for a great inspirational speaker.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

 Copyright Indiana Commerce Executives Association. All Rights Reserved.
P.O. Box 377 | Hanover IN /47243  
Phone: (812) 871-3000 | [email protected] | sitemap
Picture