High Performance Secretariats

IF YOU WANT TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A ‘HIGH PERFORMANCE SECRETARIAT’ DOWNLOAD OUR LATEST REPORT “HIGH PERFORMANCE SECRETARIATS” 

Our improved, updated and expanded “High Performance Secretariats” 2025/26 report looks at 12 Key Success Factors for European trade associations, including how to deal with Boards and Presidents, specific KPIs for performance measurement, plus a whole new big chapter about AI integration into association workflows.

We hope you enjoy this report and learn more about the 12 Key Success Factors (KSFs) for a High Performance Secretariat:

KSF 1. Employ a Great Association Leader

KSF 2. Strengthen Board and Secretariat Partnership

KSF 3. Build a High Performance Secretariat Culture

KSF 4. Recruit Great Secretariats

KSF 5. Utilise Personality Assessment

KSF 6. Compensate Staff Appropriately

KSF 7. Motivate High Performance in Association Staff

KSF 8. Give Flexitime & Non-Financial Rewards

KSF 9. Retain the Best People

KSF 10. Implement Performance Measurement

KSF 11. Coach, Mentor & Train for High Performance

KSF 12. Harness AI and Digital Transformation

We officially published the report on 10 December 2025 at Brussels Press Club in an event packed with almost 100 association leaders.