How to Improve Chapter Leader Communications

Rolling Out Slack to AIGA Chapters

AIGA didn’t have to “sell” Slack to chapter leaders who were at the leadership retreat since they were all for it. However, chapter leaders who didn’t attend the retreat still needed convincing. AIGA promoted Slack participation in several different ways:

AIGA told us “When we communicate with chapter leaders, we specifically ask them if they’re on Slack. If not, we ask them to join so they can stay up to date on everything.”

One of the best ways to encourage people to join Slack (or any other platform) is to leverage the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). Let people know what they’re missing, for example, valuable advice from peers and the chance to grow their own member community.

For AIGA, Slack has become a strategic tool for plugging chapter leaders into the AIGA network and giving them the opportunity to ask questions, make connections, access information, and exchange ideas.

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE JUMPING ONTO SLACK

Like Facebook, LinkedIn, and other digital platforms, you don’t own your Slack platform or have any control over platform features.

It’s not like an AMS you can customize; you have to adapt to what Slack offers. But the benefits far outweigh any perceived challenges. In hindsight, AIGA said they would still implement Slack. If members or chapter leaders see the value, they’ll work through any hiccups you encounter.

ESTABLISH A PROCESS

However, you do need to establish processes for how you will use Slack. For example, decide how you will get new chapter leaders on board, and how you will identify inactive chapter leaders. You need to establish guidelines and standards, like channel and chapter naming conventions.

Because everyone at AIGA has access to Slack, they had to find a way to manage responses, especially to more sensitive questions like “What is AIGA’s stance on issue X?” Like any communication channel, you must have a process in place for who replies, when, and how.

HOW CHAPTERS USE SLACK

Two years have passed since AIGA and its chapters started using Slack. Chapters create their own AIGA Slack channels. If you search online for “AIGA Slack,” you’ll see pages of them. Chapters encourage members to join Slack and connect with their fellow members. Members can even create their own channels through the chapter’s Slack channel.

Chapter membership is included in AIGA dues. When a new member joins, the Slack moderator (AIGA’s chapter development associate) lets the appropriate chapter leader know about their new member. Some chapters even let non-members into some channels so they can get a taste of the chapter membership experience before deciding whether to join AIGA.

Slack is also facilitating member-to-member networking. 70 percent of the interaction on AIGA’s Slack takes place in direct messages between members.

Effective Practices in Communicating with Chapter Leaders

Good old-fashioned communication is one of the best ways to build successful relationships with your chapters. Communication is a two-way street, but not everyone communicates in the same way.

Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of transparency between you and your chapters? Or felt like your communication revolved around administrative asks instead of resources and advice? Maybe it’s time to Mari Kondo your chapter communications.