Compliance plays a role in every organization and often there are programs or actions that are a direct result of ensuring compliance. It is fine if these programs involve transactional only items, but DEI is more than transactional. It is about the culture of the organization, the success of the team and ultimately the bottom line. Compliance may be able to address the diversity part of the equation, but that is not nearly enough to thrive it in today’s environment.
I learned in one of my finance or economics classes (can’t really remember which) that economic and stock market growth can sometimes be as much a psychological exercise as it is a physical or fundamental exercise. Meaning, when people feel good or positive about something, it can have a strong impact on the performance of that activity. This is true in many areas of our lives. I know that when I stand over a golf ball on the tee box that my confidence meter is never completely neutral, it leans one way or another and typically my tee shot follows.
Having joined Dynamic Benchmarking about 6 months ago, this year’s ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo was my first. While I had attended the ASAE Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference in Washington, DC in May, it didn’t prepare me for the overwhelming size of the Annual Meeting in Toronto. I had a hint of what was to come during the opening party at the Royal Ontario Museum where the entire museum was dedicated to ASAE - wow! My favorite part of the evening was the beautiful outdoor space outfitted with fire pits, marshmallows for s'mores, and musicians playing while we enjoyed an absolutely perfect night under the stars. As I soaked it all in I thought to myself, “This group knows how to put on an event!”
Each year, this event keeps getting better and better! We always enjoy connecting with so many friends, both new and old, meeting with clients and solidifying the partnerships we’ve built over the years. Being able to do this in such a stimulating environment is just the icing on the cake!
Last month, Lisa Vivinetto and I attended Great Ideas in Colorado Springs, CO. Created by our good friends at ASAE, the Great Ideas Conference brings together association executives and colleagues with sessions that open doors to new thinking and new ways of doing things. As I reflect back on my time there, there were some common themes in the sessions I attended that resonated with me.
The Annual ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition was another whirlwind affair for the Dynamic Benchmarking team -- full of seminars, presentations, networking and social events. Our feet were tired and our arms were heavy, but we left with our minds racing with fresh ideas fueled by this great event to which we return each year.
This year’s keynote speaker, Adam Grant, touched upon a subject vital to benchmarking, human interaction. In his bestselling book, Give and Take, he asserts that people can be classified into three, distinct styles: Takers, Matchers and Givers. Very simply, takers strive to get as much as possible from others; matchers aim to trade evenly; and givers are those rare individuals who contribute without expecting anything in return. Not only is this information valuable when building and managing teams in the workplace, it can be of great assistance in helping you create and promote an effective benchmarking study.
There are many options available for conducting your benchmarking study. From traditional paper surveys to sophisticated online platforms, there’s certainly no shortage of choices. When our clients are asked why they chose us, or what they like most about our service, the most common answers we hear relate to the level of consulting and service they receive.
It’s been about 6 months since I’ve joined Dynamic Benchmarking and it still strikes me every day what an amazing and unique company it is. As a software company, one would expect our technology to be top notch, but the real differentiator is that the corporate culture and team environment at DB are outstanding. We work in close partnership with each of our clients who are often a bit perplexed by us and wonder who we are, so I thought some insight about life inside Dynamic Benchmarking would give our readers a sense of why we’re different and how we excel in our business.
During this holiday season our thoughts naturally turn to family, as this is the time of year that families come together to celebrate and reflect. We come together and give thanks for all that we have and, as the year comes to a close, make plans for what we will accomplish in the new year ahead.