How Associations Can Lead the Gen AI Revolution Through Peer Power
Peer mentoring is a transformative strategy that can revolutionize how associations embrace generative AI (Gen AI). By leveraging personal connections and shared expertise, peer mentoring accelerates learning, fosters collaboration, and fuels innovation. For professional associations serving members across industries, mastering Gen AI tools isn’t just a way to enhance operations—it’s an opportunity to model leadership and set industry standards.
The Human Element of the Gen AI Revolution
Generative AI tools promise efficiency and creativity, yet navigating them can feel daunting to staff and volunteer leaders. Peer mentoring offers a solution, bridging the gap between uncertainty and confidence. Staff and volunteers can learn directly from colleagues or members who have already mastered Gen AI, gaining technical skills and contextual insights tailored to their unique roles within the association.
Consider a volunteer chapter leader being guided through AI-driven member engagement tools by a peer with experience in the same context. Unlike generic webinars, peer mentoring personalizes the learning journey, breaking down complex concepts and demonstrating how to apply them in real-world situations. This one-on-one support makes Gen AI tools accessible and relatable, fostering confidence in applying them to challenges like event planning, membership growth, or advocacy.
Empowering Early Adopters as Mentors
Associations often underestimate the Gen AI expertise within their membership or staff. Early adopters—those enthusiastic about using AI for tasks like data analysis, content creation, or volunteer coordination—are an untapped resource. Peer mentoring programs mobilize these individuals, positioning them as mentors who guide others toward Gen AI proficiency.
For instance, a national association with chapters across the country collaborated with me to launch a Gen AI peer mentoring program. Early adopters from various chapters were brought together to mentor chapter leaders and staff, sharing best practices for leveraging AI in areas like membership engagement and strategic communications. This structured approach ensured expertise wasn’t siloed but instead became a shared resource across the association.
Tailored Learning for Diverse Roles
One of the strengths of peer mentoring is its adaptability. Associations encompass diverse roles—staff managing day-to-day operations, volunteers leading local chapters, and members engaging through sections tailored to their professional demographics. Peer mentoring aligns with these varied needs, offering customized learning experiences.
In the aforementioned association, a finance staff member used mentoring sessions to master AI-driven budgeting tools, while a young professional section leader focused on Gen AI for social media strategy. Such tailored guidance helps mentees integrate AI tools into their specific responsibilities, enhancing their productivity and effectiveness.
A Win-Win for Associations in the Gen AI Revolution
Peer mentoring benefits everyone involved. Early adopters gain recognition as thought leaders, boosting their professional visibility while developing leadership and communication skills. Mentees, whether staff or volunteer leaders, become confident in applying Gen AI tools to their roles, unlocking new efficiencies and innovations, while managing risks.
This dynamic also strengthens the association as a whole. Staff equipped with Gen AI skills enhance operational efficiency, while empowered volunteers bring innovative approaches to chapter activities and member engagement. The ripple effect? A culture of shared learning and collaboration that transforms how the association serves its members.
Client Case Study: Leading the Way
A professional association in the healthcare field provides a compelling example. Facing challenges in member engagement, the association partnered with me to integrate Gen AI tools through a peer mentoring program. Early adopters among the staff and member leaders were trained to mentor colleagues and peers. This included sessions on using Gen AI for personalized member communication, automated event planning, and predictive analytics for advocacy campaigns.
Peer mentoring doesn’t just train individuals—it strengthens relationships across an association. Staff and volunteer leaders in different chapters connected over shared learning experiences, while members within demographic-focused sections discovered new ways to collaborate. This cross-pollination of ideas fostered a culture of innovation, with chapters and sections integrating AI into activities ranging from mentorship programs to advocacy efforts.
The healthcare association’s program underscored the power of peer mentoring. Staff using Gen AI tools reported 30% time savings in routine tasks. Volunteer leaders expressed 30% higher satisfaction with their roles, thanks to reduced administrative burdens. Member retention rates increased by 15% as communication became more targeted and timely. The association’s reputation as a forward-thinking leader in its field also grew, attracting new members eager to learn from its innovative practices.
Why Peer Mentoring Is Essential for Associations
As professional associations navigate the evolving landscape of Gen AI, traditional training methods fall short. Peer mentoring offers a scalable, human-centered approach to learning that not only accelerates Gen AI adoption but also strengthens the association’s community. By leveraging the expertise of early adopters and fostering collaboration across chapters and sections, associations can lead their industries into the future.
In an era of rapid technological change, associations have a dual responsibility: to integrate Gen AI into their own operations and to set the standard for their members. Peer mentoring is the bridge to achieving both, empowering associations to lead with confidence, foster innovation, and redefine excellence.
Key Take-Away
The Gen AI Revolution isn't just about tech—peer mentoring empowers associations to humanize AI adoption, accelerate learning, and build a culture of shared innovation among staff, volunteers, and members. Share on XImage credit: The Jopwell Collection/Unsplash
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky was named “Office Whisperer” by The New York Times for helping leaders overcome frustrations with hybrid work and Generative AI. He serves as the CEO of the future-of-work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts. Dr. Gleb wrote seven best-selling books, and his two most recent ones are Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams and ChatGPT for Thought Leaders and Content Creators: Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI for Innovative and Effective Content Creation. His cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 650 articles and 550 interviews in Harvard Business Review, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, CBS News, Fox News, Time, Business Insider, Fortune, The New York Times, and elsewhere. His writing was translated into Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Korean, French, Vietnamese, German, and other languages. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and speaking and training for Fortune 500 companies from Aflac to Xerox. It also comes from over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist, with 8 years as a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill and 7 years as a professor at Ohio State. A proud Ukrainian American, Dr. Gleb lives in Columbus, Ohio.