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MemberShift: Why Members Leave Associations and the Strategies Proven to Bring Them Back
Why Members Leave and Strategies Proven to Bring Them Back
What if everything we know about membership is all wrong?
Let’s face it. People no longer jump at the chance to join. It takes more effort and there's considerably more turnover. It’s become the norm for associations to report losses in membership or revenue. Some organizations have been forced to downsize and others are struggling to survive.
There’s no denying it. Membership growth has become increasingly difficult for membership organizations to obtain. A new strategy is needed, and Sarah Sladek introduces it in her latest book, MemberShift .
Sarah’s research on membership engagement and social change is unparalleled. She began researching shifts in membership trends in the United States in 2002. She has since conducted global research, authored several books on membership, and been a consultant to organizations worldwide. Her strategic guidance has been credited with influencing significant increases in growth and revenues.
In MemberShift , Sarah makes the case associations have been misguided by borrowing best practices from business models and relying on traditions of the past. As a result, they lost sight of who and what matters most and struggled to leverage their assets.
But Sarah proves it’s possible to reverse the disengagement and decline.
Whether the association is struggling to engage younger members, show value, manage change, or strategize for the future, Sarah’s book delivers the much-needed insights and tools to reposition the organization for greater success.
Her book brings readers an entirely new perspective and way of thinking about membership. No other book has gone into such depth to explain membership strategy and provide practices proven to lead to membership growth.
This is the book to read if you want to improve your association’s performance or realize different results.
With MemberShift , associations can stop responding to decline and focus on advancing their industries and serving their communities. With MemberShift , membership growth is possible once again.
What if everything we know about membership is all wrong?
Let’s face it. People no longer jump at the chance to join. It takes more effort and there's considerably more turnover. It’s become the norm for associations to report losses in membership or revenue. Some organizations have been forced to downsize and others are struggling to survive.
There’s no denying it. Membership growth has become increasingly difficult for membership organizations to obtain. A new strategy is needed, and Sarah Sladek introduces it in her latest book, MemberShift .
Sarah’s research on membership engagement and social change is unparalleled. She began researching shifts in membership trends in the United States in 2002. She has since conducted global research, authored several books on membership, and been a consultant to organizations worldwide. Her strategic guidance has been credited with influencing significant increases in growth and revenues.
In MemberShift , Sarah makes the case associations have been misguided by borrowing best practices from business models and relying on traditions of the past. As a result, they lost sight of who and what matters most and struggled to leverage their assets.
But Sarah proves it’s possible to reverse the disengagement and decline.
Whether the association is struggling to engage younger members, show value, manage change, or strategize for the future, Sarah’s book delivers the much-needed insights and tools to reposition the organization for greater success.
Her book brings readers an entirely new perspective and way of thinking about membership. No other book has gone into such depth to explain membership strategy and provide practices proven to lead to membership growth.
This is the book to read if you want to improve your association’s performance or realize different results.
With MemberShift , associations can stop responding to decline and focus on advancing their industries and serving their communities. With MemberShift , membership growth is possible once again.
- GenresNonfiction
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2023
About the author
Sarah L. Sladek
6 books8 followersSarah L. Sladek is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and CEO who has dedicated her career to helping organizations create cultures of relevance and belonging. Her mission is to deliver the strategy and next-gen intelligence organizations need to curb turnover, disengagement, and decline. Organizations worldwide have sought Sarah's expertise to engage younger generations, increase relevance and competitiveness, and realize growth. She's been referred to as a social equity expert, and recognized as a a Global Leader in Strategy, Talent Economy Influencer, and Woman Who Advances Associations.
Sarah's two decades of research on generations and social change and their influences on engagement behaviors is unparalleled. In addition to authoring books and leading research, she is the founder of a strategy development and training firm, a renowned keynote speaker, podcaster, and web show host. She volunteers her time serving on boards of non-profits benefitting women and youth. Backed by years of experience and supported by solid research, Sarah remains committed to helping organizations plan for their futures and prosper in the new economy.
Sarah is the author of MemberShift (2023), Talent Generation (2017), Knowing Y (2014), The End of Membership As We Know It (2011), Rock Stars Incorporated (2008), and The New Recruit (2007).
Sarah's two decades of research on generations and social change and their influences on engagement behaviors is unparalleled. In addition to authoring books and leading research, she is the founder of a strategy development and training firm, a renowned keynote speaker, podcaster, and web show host. She volunteers her time serving on boards of non-profits benefitting women and youth. Backed by years of experience and supported by solid research, Sarah remains committed to helping organizations plan for their futures and prosper in the new economy.
Sarah is the author of MemberShift (2023), Talent Generation (2017), Knowing Y (2014), The End of Membership As We Know It (2011), Rock Stars Incorporated (2008), and The New Recruit (2007).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 14, 2024
This good is a really great read for membership and association professionals looking for ways to increase member engagement. The books asks great questions and informs us of the importance of understanding our audience and tailoring an association to appropriately represent the members. Is your association ready for a membershift?
November 13, 2025
Very much a book that should've been an article. Even though the book is short (160 pages), it still feels pretty padded. Sladek's thesis is good--that membership associations need to put their members first to grow and succeed. Her recommendations, once she actually gets to them, are also good; she basically recommends focusing on members and what they need and want (which involves regularly getting their opinions, via surveys, social media, roundtables, town halls, etc.), making sure that young people/early career/people with different backgrounds are well represented in leadership and committees (and actually valuing their input), giving all members a voice, and taking a look at the association to make sure that it's nimble and not stuck in "Because we've always done it that way." I also liked that she emphasized that associations should be looking not at profits, but at members--because, after all, if you grow your membership, your revenue will also increase.
But as someone who's worked in membership associations for the vast majority of my career, I have some questions. She hammers hard that associations should be doing work "solely focused and dedicated exclusively to the members." It's bad that associations do work that benefits people beyond the members, that nonmembers can access the same content/events/whatever and just pay more for it. Associations are too focused on events, Sladek says. They're helping everyone, not just members.
...Sure. But she doesn't go into how to walk that line. My experience is that many people support associations because they do work like lobbying the government, which helps everyone in the profession, not just the members. My job is making books that, yes, are available to nonmembers at a higher price. Sladek wants associations to be "future focused," which includes providing "education, job training, scholarships, and certifications" (p. 159), and that's my job! I provide education! But she never delves into what providing education and job training to members only looks like. Every association I've worked for has had some content that was only for members while also having content that's available to everyone. Maybe I fall into the 20% that's acceptably not members-exclusive?
It's good for associations to focus on members, what they want, and making their experiences better. I just got frustrated reading this book. Good conclusions, too much padding, and too much vagueness about how some of this should be done.
But as someone who's worked in membership associations for the vast majority of my career, I have some questions. She hammers hard that associations should be doing work "solely focused and dedicated exclusively to the members." It's bad that associations do work that benefits people beyond the members, that nonmembers can access the same content/events/whatever and just pay more for it. Associations are too focused on events, Sladek says. They're helping everyone, not just members.
...Sure. But she doesn't go into how to walk that line. My experience is that many people support associations because they do work like lobbying the government, which helps everyone in the profession, not just the members. My job is making books that, yes, are available to nonmembers at a higher price. Sladek wants associations to be "future focused," which includes providing "education, job training, scholarships, and certifications" (p. 159), and that's my job! I provide education! But she never delves into what providing education and job training to members only looks like. Every association I've worked for has had some content that was only for members while also having content that's available to everyone. Maybe I fall into the 20% that's acceptably not members-exclusive?
It's good for associations to focus on members, what they want, and making their experiences better. I just got frustrated reading this book. Good conclusions, too much padding, and too much vagueness about how some of this should be done.
March 22, 2026
2 stars is really too low, but 3 is labeled "liked it" and that's not where I was at with this one.
Did it have some interesting and relevant points? Yes, absolutely.
Did I take a few notes? Yes, absolutely.
Was it really repetitive for such a short work? Yes, absolutely.
I also found it very disappointing that having purchased the Kindle version that none of the worksheets that the author recommends filling out were available in a digital format that I could find and use. Clearly the sort of old school thinking this book rails against believing this would be purchased in an actual, physical edition. We'll see if any of the notes I took translate to meaningful change.
Did it have some interesting and relevant points? Yes, absolutely.
Did I take a few notes? Yes, absolutely.
Was it really repetitive for such a short work? Yes, absolutely.
I also found it very disappointing that having purchased the Kindle version that none of the worksheets that the author recommends filling out were available in a digital format that I could find and use. Clearly the sort of old school thinking this book rails against believing this would be purchased in an actual, physical edition. We'll see if any of the notes I took translate to meaningful change.
January 3, 2024
Amazing book! Read it in a single day but will read again and take even more notes.
Want to Read
May 25, 2025ADK Kappan June 2025 p2-3 article on Booktalk with the author
May 29, 2025
I wouldn’t have read it if it weren’t for work; I found it quite repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews