Association CEO Index 2024 - Flipbook - Page 23
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Association CEO Index 2024
Wellbeing index
While many association CEOs report feeling stressed and frustrated by
their role, few are intending to leave the industry.
The survey data reveals a pervasive sense of job
stress among CEOs, with 84% of respondents
indicating they frequently or occasionally don't have
enough time to perform their roles effectively.
Association size, or the number of staff at the
organisation, doesn’t seem to have an impact on
time constraints. However, it appears more of a
problem for CEOs of hybrid associations (where
92% report time constraints) as well as among
females (91%) and younger CEOs aged under 30,
(95%).
Consequently, 70% of CEOs across all segments
report feeling run down and lacking energy.
Industry body leaders appear especially affected,
with 81% reporting feeling drained. Female leaders
also more commonly report feeling run down and
lacking in energy than their male counterparts.
Comments by association leaders suggest this
frustration is due to the challenges of limited
resources, financial sustainability, board
governance, and managing diverse member
expectations. These challenges underscore the
complexity and demands of leadership within the
association sector.
More positively, while governance issues were cited
as challenges by some, few association CEOs
report feeling hampered by their Board, with two
thirds saying this rarely or never occurs.
Despite these challenges, only 27% of CEOs
indicate a desire to leave the association sector
entirely, suggesting that while the current roles are
demanding, many still find value in the broader
sector. Nearly three quarters (73%) say they never
or rarely contemplate leaving the sector.
Frustration with their role affects 50% of all CEOs,
with the highest levels among industry body
leaders, at 65%. This compares to only 36% of
leaders of professional associations.
50.2
Wellbeing
Index Score
Wellbeing ratings, 2024
Frequently
16%
44%
8%
42%
Occasionally
7%
9%
32%
25%
54%
Rarely
Never
24%
41%
40%
40%
43%
43%
23%
12%
8%
You don’t have enough Run down and lacking
time to do your job well
energy
21%
23%
32%
7%
Frustrated with your
role
Q. Thinking about your role, how often do you feel:
You would like to leave
You would like to leave Hampered by your
your job
Board to perform your the association sector
role effectively
