Permission to Play: Digital Experimentation

There are many reasons why our organizations have been a bit….hesitant…to really dive into the digital world. We know the power of in person. We have tried and true traditional methods of delivering value that bring both revenue and membership stability. We have staff who have established foundational practices to run the organization who may be more reticent to change. We have volunteer leaders who vocalize awareness of digital trends without wanting to be the ones to direct the organization to shift from traditional forms and formats – because there would be a sense of loss for those who are used to the way things are and because there is risk in trying something new. Leaders are inherently adverse to failure happening on their watch.

Welcome to a moment in time where digital experimentation is not only welcome, it is necessary.

Video conferencing, whether Zoom, GotoMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Facetime, etc. – has been ubiquitous for years. Yet, we know of more than one leader, member, or staff that has resisted turning on video on a call. In our new reality, that isn’t a choice any more.

Nearly every organization has come to embrace offering virtual learning as a key piece of value for their membership throughout the year. Most often the offering comes in the form of a passive webinar with learners mostly in receptive mode. This past week, I have had no less than six dozen of these come across my inbox. If you want your digital learning experiences to stand out, they have to embrace adult learning approaches - specifically they have to be virtual-experiential and interactive.

Networking – forming meaningful relationships – is at the very heart of our organizations. We know "in person" is a powerful vehicle for meeting new colleagues. Now, while we are isolated at home, is the moment to shift into a mode of creating connections and community in the digital space. Your organization can create hyper-focused community engagement opportunities – by discipline, by career stage, even by geography – and then simply invite whoever would like to join a virtual happy hour or coffee talk. For those who attend, remember to invite them to connect on LinkedIn in real time.

This is a moment where, if there was a digital engagement or value experience you always wanted to pilot but were met with resistance, do it! There is a great tolerance for experimentation right now. Members will appreciate organizations who, in a moment of global disruption, try new methods to provide value, community, and stability – even if some of those trials are a bit of a miss. Remember, setbacks can further refine future efforts.

So, gather your team, and for just a few moments dream together – if we were going to surprise and delight our members in this age of virtual, if we were going to create meaningful opportunities for learning, knowledge, collegial relationships, and united voice – what would we create? The time for digital innovation is today – whether the results are a home run or a lesson learned, your organization’s efforts will be recognized as a nimble adaptation to meet the needs of your member in real time.