#ACCE21 Preview: Conversations on Leadership

Like many chamber professionals, a few ACCE staff members picked up recent books by Casey Steinbacher, CCE and Dave Adkisson, CCE to read their insights into the future of our industry. While we won’t give away all the great tidbits in the books, here are a few high-level ideas to get you ready to tune into their Conversations on Leadership at #ACCE21: Chamber Innovation Summit.  

Chambers are the Original Influencers.

Forget Instagram and TikTok - Chambers are the original influencers. “Chambers have influenced millions of decisions that have transformed communities,” wrote Steinbacher in her book, From Relevant to Essential: Five Key Insights for Chambers of Commerce. “It is their hidden, amazing super power.” Think about your chamber and what you’ve done behind the scenes that maybe your community doesn’t know about. How can you share that story with your members and beyond?

Servant Leadership Means Effective Chambers.

Dave Adkisson references ACCE’s Horizon Initiative when talking about community catalytic leadership in his book, Horseshoes vs. Chess: A Practical Guide for Chamber of Commerce Leaders. A chamber needs to focus on what it wants to be in the community more than on what it will do. In the same vein, Adkisson believes chamber executives need to be servant leaders. “Being truly dedicated to a cause bigger than oneself - the cause of building an effective chamber and improving one’s community - is the best underlying indicator of a true servant leader,” he wrote.

Find a Cause.

Both Steinbacher and Adkisson discuss the importance of community impact. Finding a community-wide cause to support and act upon can mean new streams of revenue, new members and even a new reputation among local residents. Adkisson said that his experience with what he calls “cause-based fundraising” provides a fantastic opportunity for chambers in the world of philanthropy. And what if your members push back on these changes in your chamber? “Remind each and every member that your mission, your work, is community-wide and success in that work also supports their success,” Steinbacher said. “There is still a role for chambers to play in assisting members in their individual business growth.”

Chambers are Here to Stay.

ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly predicts a chamber boom, and both Adkisson and Steinbacher agree that chambers aren’t going anywhere. In fact, now is the time to show the relevancy to your community. Adkisson said that if a chamber disappeared, local business people would coming together to create a new one by the end of the week. And Steinbacher believes rethinking mission and engaging the broader community is the future. “If heeded, they will transform the organization from relevant to business to essential to the community,” she wrote.

Don’t miss the Conversations on Leadership featuring Adkisson, Steinbacher and ACCE Board Chair Jay Byers on Monday, July 19 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Get the full agenda and register for #ACCE21: Chamber Innovation Summit here.