Have you reached a point at your Association where you don't feel comfortable with your board? Do you feel like they have turned against you? Are you concerned about your next performance review? Keep reading and learn about...

Warning! You're about to be fired!

There are numerous subtle indicators that your time may be running out at your current position. Listed below are warning signs you should watch out for.

1) Your Association is losing money. A volunteer board will tolerate an operating loss for 1-2 years, but poor performance beyond that point will be considered incompetence. You must find ways to generate a profit, even if it means firing employees, cutting sensitive internal expenses or foregoing raises. You have direct responsibility for your association's profitability! But be careful! Try to cut in areas which don't affect your member's perception of the organization. Reducing the length of your newsletter or dropping a "free" member service may give the impression the organization is in trouble.

2) Your membership and /or convention attendance is down. Occasional downward spikes in convention attendance or membership can often be explained by economic trends or other non-reoccuring factors. But if either area is in a downward trend, you will need to address this immediately. Take this test... look at a convention program and promotion from five years ago. Compare that information to your 2001 event. If you're looking at two identical products, you're long overdue for a change! Make changes, any changes!! Create excitement and bring those lost attendees back. Many associations are experiencing membership declines due to a drop in the sheer number of eligible members in their industry or profession. Is your dues formula obsolete based on the evolving structure of your membership? Examine what attrition or mergers are doing to your membership dues, and explore if there are any "tangent" groups which would be eligible for membership. Many associations are expanding their eligible membership base to accommodate declines in their core industry.

3) Your Board is meeting behind your back. If you discover your board is holding meetings or conference calls without your knowledge or participation, they are likely discussing your future. Often these meetings are set up through a staff person, so watch for differences in behavior of your key people. When you confirm that the meetings are being held, keep your cool. Don't confront your leadership about the meetings, but arrange a sit down with your President to go over your vision for the association and to obtain his/her input on what you can do better. Presenting a proactive, team approach may not save you at this point, but it will reinforce your loyalty to the organization and your commitment to excellence.

4) Your board starts doing your job. If your board is going around you to assign new projects directly to staff, that's a sure sign you're through. YOU have responsibility for staff job assignments, giving staff raises and internal operating procedures. If one or more board members starts performing these duties, they are preparing for a transition. They will be reluctant to inform you of their decisions, and you may find your President is contacting a key staff person directly. Again, communication is the key. Meet with your President and calmly discuss what can be done to change the organization's direction to the satisfaction of the board.

5) You refuse to embrace technology. Yep, technology can be confusing sometimes. If you have a membership base which is highly technologically literate, you must keep pace or you will be perceived as out of step and incapable of leading your organization into the future. This doesn't mean you need to learn how to create web sites for your members. But understand the role technology plays in their lives and businesses, and direct your association to keep in step with their expectations. If your membership is behind the times with regard to technology, you have a golden opportunity to demonstrate your leadership and provide direction and innovation to your members.

6) You are left out of the budget process. If your board or budget committee suddenly takes full charge of preparing the budget, or postpones consideration of the budget for several months, there is likely a financial transition coming which they are hiding from you. If the board asks department managers to submit their budget recommendations directly to the board or budget committee versus going through you, be forewarned. Call your President or budget committee chairman to set up an appointment to go over some proposed budget numbers. Their reaction will be our indicator as to what is happening.

7) Performance reviews, raises or bonuses are postponed. There is no more awkward situation for a volunteer than to provide a performance review to someone who will be fired in several weeks or months. It is much easier to simply postpone that task until it becomes unnecessary. If you are instructed to delay your performance evaluations of your employees, or the board decides to conduct the reviews themselves,they have likely decided you no longer have the authority to make those judgments. If your board polls your employees for input on YOUR job performance, they are likely "papering your file" for an eventual transition.

There are numerous other warning signs that your board is unhappy. If you find one or more of these scenarios fits your situation, be wary! Communicate with your leadership, demonstrate unconditional loyalty, and work smarter! There is often an opportunity to right the ship. Remember,

PERFORMANCE is the key!