Give your staff more freedom, not less

Give your staff more freedom, not less

I often tell my clients, when it comes to data management, I'm a big liberal; I believe you should give as many staff as possible the ability to edit data within your data management system (with proper training, of course!). The point of a centralized data management system is not just to hold the data in one place, but to allow all staff to update that data when appropriate.

I've lost count of the number of organizations I've worked with where only one or two staff were allowed to update data within the AMS. If a staff person received a data change (e.g., new phone number, new title, new email) they would have to email the person who can update that data in the AMS. So the result is at least TWO people will have typed out (or at the very least cut-and-pasted) the same information (first the email, then into the database).

And I've seen a similar thing happen with editing the association's website. Often only one or two people are allowed to make edits, so any changes to the website have to go through these staff, which slows down the process and increases the opportunity for error.

My suggestion: train your staff and then trust them to do the work correctly. Isn't that why we pay staff?

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

The hidden costs of bad data

February 12, 2025

The hidden costs of bad data Nobody likes bad data, and presumably we’re all working […]

Don’t let your customers edit their names online!

February 5, 2025

Don’t let your customers edit their names online! This issue came up recently and I […]

Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern.

January 29, 2025

Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern. We’ve probably all […]

“Every association does this.”

January 22, 2025

“Every association does this.” One of the most significant values I bring to my clients […]

Trust your gut

January 15, 2025

Trust your gut When I help associations with selection of a new technology system (e.g., […]

“People more frequently require to be reminded than informed.”

January 8, 2025

“People more frequently require to be reminded than informed.” “People more frequently require to be […]

Problems without solutions are not problems, they are facts of life

December 18, 2024

Problems without solutions are not problems, they are facts of life “Problems without solutions are […]

Perfect is not possible

December 11, 2024

Perfect is not possible We’ve all heard the phrase “Perfect is the enemy of good” and […]

“Different” isn’t necessarily better or worse.

December 4, 2024

“Different” isn’t necessarily better or worse. One of the biggest challenges I face when working […]

The Rule of 100 and 1,000 and automation

November 20, 2024

The Rule of 100 and 1,000 and automation I originally coined the rule of 100 […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top