Membership is all that matters

The most contentious debates in membership-based organizations always center around how outsiders become members - who decides who is in vs who is out. This debate is even more intense when membership is high-cost and gives you access to limited resources. I was reminded of this today at the annual general meetings for two membership-based organizations of which I am a member.

This is a reminder to leaders everywhere that if you tamper with the membership rules of your organization, expect it to be contentious. You better have all of your ducks in a row and have considered as many different viewpoints and potential framings before you put your proposal in front of the membership for a vote.