Essential Surveys

Satisfaction: Maintaining a high level of member satisfaction is critical. Satisfied members promote the organization. Dissatisfied members leave.

Synchronicity: In effective organizations, membership and management are on the same page. To what extent does the leadership and membership understand the organization's mission and accomplishments? How well does the mission match what members believe you are (or should be) doing and what they want to get out of their participation? A survey can identify where misalignment and misunderstandings occur on both sides to help you better communicate the organization's accomplishments and make membership more meaningful.

Strategic Planning: Most organizations wisely set aside time each year to take stock, look at what is working and what isn't, and plan for the coming year. Surveys can't answer every question, but they do two things very well that are essential to strategic planning. One is the evaluation of programs and services from the member's perspective. Secondly, surveys are very good at pointing you in the right direction. Member-based knowledge combined with your own experience creates a powerful basis for strategic planning.

Priorities: When there is more to do than time or resources will permit, members can help you prioritize your organization's agenda. Surveys identify the issues members care about most. You may think you know your members' priorities, but in most organizations it is only the most active and most vocal who get heard. Addressing priorities of the overall membership helps keep the organization relevant.

Relevance: In a mobile society where virtual networks have replaced putting down roots, some membership organizations have trouble maintaining their numbers. If you are thinking that it may be time to reinvent the organization, a membership survey can help. What will it take to attract and retain the young members that will be the organization's future? How far ‘outside the box' can you go without alienating your core membership?

Commitment: Membership surveys demonstrate your commitment to understanding members' needs and priorities. When you follow through on what you learn, you'll be able to say: "You told us and we listened" ... now that's commitment!

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