Every thriving Chamber of Commerce pro understands the power of personal connection. Your Ambassador Group is the front line, the welcoming committee, and the relationship builders. They are the elves in your Santa’s workshop.
At the helm of this vital team is the Ambassador Group Board Chair. But just what does that rockstar do? How do they contribute to the health of the group and, thus, the chamber? And how can you find and nurture the perfect leader?
While your chamber board helps with the strategic plan and long-term goals of your organization, your Ambassadors are behind the everyday operations and smiles on your members’ faces.
That makes them incredibly important people.
While it’s easy to invite anyone eager to volunteer to become a group member, that’s not advisable. You want to select them very carefully. Here’s what you should know about the best practices behind your Ambassadors Group and its leadership.
What Do Chamber Ambassadors Do?
Your Ambassador Group is more than just friendly faces at events; they are the Chamber’s relationship architects.
Their core functions include:
Member Welcoming and Onboarding
These special folks are often tasked with extending a warm welcome to new members, ensuring they feel valued and connected. Ambassadors also guide new members through Chamber resources and opportunities.
Member Engagement and Retention
Chamber Ambassadors don’t just work with new members. They build relationships with existing members, fostering a sense of community, and ensuring members feel engaged and valued. Your Ambassadors proactively identify and address member needs and concerns.
Ambassadors also encourage member participation in Chamber events and programs. They can be some of your biggest event ticket sellers. Some chambers incentivize them accordingly with contests. The Greater Fayetteville Chamber’s Ambassadors earn points by volunteering at events and ribbon cuttings. Additionally, the Chamber recognizes its hard-working Ambassadors with “Ambassador of the Quarter” certificates and an “Ambassador of the Year” award at its Annual Awards ceremony.
Networking and Relationship Building
Ambassadors are key to facilitating connections between members at Chamber events, ensuring no one is standing alone without anyone to speak to. Promoting the Chamber and its members within the community is also a big part of what they do.
Event Support
Since Ambassadors assist with event registration, logistics, and member introductions, they can take a lot of the heavy lifting off Chamber staff. Ambassadors are visible representatives of the Chamber.
The Ambassador Group Board Chair: A Vital Role
The Board Chair is the driving force behind the Ambassador Group’s success. A strong chair can be the difference between an active group and one that exists in name only.
The Chair’s responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership
- Setting the vision and direction for the Ambassador Group, ensuring alignment with the Chamber’s strategic goals.
Team Management
- Leading and motivating the Ambassador team.
- Facilitating effective communication and collaboration.
- Creating a positive and inclusive team environment.
Operational Oversight
- Organizing and conducting regular meetings.
- Coordinating event support and member outreach.
- Reporting group activity to the chamber staff and board.
Relationship Building
- Acting as the liaison between the ambassadors, chamber staff, and the board.
Recruiting the Perfect Chair: Finding the Heart of Your Chamber
The right board chair can elevate your Ambassador Group to new heights, so recruiting a good one is one of the most important things you can do for that group.
Here’s how to find them:
Look for the Right Personality
Ideally, you want someone with strong interpersonal skills, someone who is a natural connector with a genuine interest in people.
You also want to recruit someone who can:
- inspire and guide a team
- communicate clearly and effectively
- manage tasks and prioritize effectively
- advocate for the Chamber’s mission
- takes initiative and follow through on commitments
Target Professionals
While you can find a strong chamber ambassador board chair across any vertical, some professions cultivate the types of skills you’re looking for.
If someone is successful in these professions, they will likely make a solid ambassador chair:
- Real Estate Agents
- Sales and Marketing Professionals
- Mortgage Professionals
- Community Leaders
- Retired Professionals
- Insurance Agents
- Financial Advisors
- Community Relations Specialists
- Event Coordinators
- Public Relations Specialists
- Consultants
- Non-Profit Professionals
Creative Recruitment Strategies
Invite current ambassadors and Chamber members to nominate potential candidates. Highlight successful ambassadors and their contributions, inspiring others to get involved and showing people exactly what it takes to exceed in the position by pointing out what you value. Host sessions to educate potential candidates about the role and its benefits.
When you find someone who might be a good fit, arrange a one-on-one meeting. Chamber staff or current board members should meet with potential candidates to explain the role. Mapping out expectations is important. You don’t want anyone thinking the position is just about being friendly.
Ambassador Training: Investing in Success
Once you’ve found the right people, you need to train them on how they can best succeed. Effective training is essential for equipping ambassadors with the skills and knowledge they need to be the true “heart of the Chamber.”
Training should cover:
- Mission, vision, programs, and resources for the Chamber. While they needn’t memorize an elevator pitch on the benefits of membership, they should be able to give a solid reason why they’re members and how it’s benefitted them.
- Active listening, effective introductions, and handling objections.
- Networking techniques and building rapport.
- Professional conduct and member introductions. It’s also essential for them to understand people will see them as an extension of the chamber. That means if they write a bad Yelp review of a local restaurant, for instance, it can be viewed as the Chamber’s opinion and get everyone involved in hot water.
- Chamber CRM, event apps, and online resources. New and existing members will often have questions about these parts of membership, and since the Ambassadors are reaching out, they’ll be the first to hear of them.
- Practice handling common situations and member inquiries. Create decision trees so that each Ambassador knows where you want specific inquiries directed like questions about sponsorship or membership complaints.
Think of your Ambassador Group as the spark that ignites your Chamber’s potential. With the right leader at the helm and a team fueled by a genuine desire for connection, they’re not just recruiting. Together, you’re creating a vibrant network to empower businesses and transform your community. Finding that leader, and nurturing that team, is one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your community, not to mention your own workload.
