This is the final article in a series outlining how associations can play a greater role in the professional development of their members and why promoting problem solving as their next core competency can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage. Read part one, part two, and part three.

Problem solving is not the focus of any of the traditional competencies promoted by associations: advocacy, leadership development, or professional development.

But any professional association that neglects problem solving risks undermining its core mission, leading to a decline in member loyalty, organizational growth, and influence within the industry.

A community of practice (CoP) represents a practical opportunity to develop these capabilities because CoPs have problem solving at their core.

A CoP is a group of people who come together to share knowledge, learn from each other, and collaborate on solving common problems within a specific area of interest or expertise—like a professional association.

How Are CoPs Useful?

Here are some benefits of establishing a CoP for your association:

• Diverse expertise. CoPs bring together individuals with varying levels of experience and expertise. This diversity allows for a range of perspectives and insights, helping to approach problems more comprehensively.
• Collaborative learning. CoPs encourage ongoing learning and knowledge sharing. Members can share experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, accelerating the problem-solving process by building on what others have already discovered.
• Faster problem identification. Because CoPs are focused on a specific domain or area of interest, they are more likely to recognize emerging challenges early, allowing for quicker identification and resolution of problems.
• Innovative solutions. Collaborative environments foster creativity. By interacting with others, CoP members can combine different ideas, leading to innovative solutions that might not have been generated by individuals working in isolation.
• Support and resources. CoPs offer a built-in support network. Members can pool resources, seek advice, or collaborate on implementing solutions, which can make solving complex problems more manageable.
• Sustained engagement. CoPs are typically long-term groups, meaning they can follow through on problem-solving efforts, support implementation, and help evaluate results over time.
• Knowledge retention and sharing. Solutions to problems are often documented and shared within the community, ensuring that knowledge is not lost but rather spread and retained for future use.
• Collective ownership. In a CoP, problems are tackled collectively, which often leads to higher commitment and shared responsibility for finding and implementing effective solutions.

How Do CoPs Compare to Other Learning Tools?

CoPs are simply better than many of the other means typically utilized by associations to develop new knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Formal training programs. While structured educational sessions designed to teach specific skills like problem solving can be useful, they typically don’t focus on collective problem solving or ongoing collaboration.
• Consulting services. Hiring external experts to solve specific problems may be effective, but it is often transactional and may not build your internal problem-solving capacity or community reputation.
• Mentorship programs. Mentorship offers valuable advice, but doesn’t typically involve the collective, iterative problem solving seen in CoPs.
• Workshops and seminars. Short-term, focused sessions on particular topics like problem solving can impart useful knowledge but often lack the long-term community engagement and collective knowledge building.
• Online learning platforms. Self-paced courses that allow individuals to develop skills independently are great for individual growth but lack the collaborative, real-time problem-solving dynamics of CoPs.

In Conclusion

By combining the knowledge, experience, and resources of its members, a community of practice creates a strong foundation for problem solving and continuous improvement while addressing many of the challenges facing today’s associations.

Associations that prioritize problem solving position themselves for greater innovation, member loyalty, and long-term success. By embedding problem solving into their culture and operations, they can create a more agile, efficient, and ultimately, a more resilient and relevant association.