There’s been a lot of buzz around behavioral science lately—and for good reason. It’s a favorite topic on business podcasts, blogs, articles, and beyond.
That’s because more people are realizing that if we understand how humans really think and act, we can design better systems, experiences, and results.
If you haven’t studied behavioral science, we have a crash course for you. So, grab a cup of coffee (or a preferred beverage) and find out how it can help you and your chamber.
One of the most powerful concepts to come out of this field is something called the Progress Principle. In a major study by Harvard researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, they analyzed thousands of daily work diaries of business leaders and found that what motivated people most wasn’t big raises, titles, or even praise. It was simply this: the feeling of making progress in meaningful work.
That’s it. Small wins. A sense of forward movement. That’s part of the reason why it can feel so defeating to do the same thing over and over again or not to understand the why behind a directive in the first place.
Small wins are a game-changer for chambers and those who run them because small wins come quickly. Plus, it’s likely you have a ton of them at your chamber and throughout your community.
Whether you’re thinking about member engagement, your motivation, or how to show your value more clearly, “small wins” might just be your secret weapon.
Let’s break this down into actionable areas for the greatest impact.
Members Want to Feel Like They’re Getting Somewhere
We often market chamber membership using big-picture benefits: influence, advocacy, access, and visibility. But for many members, especially small business owners, those wins feel far away or hard to measure.
That’s where small wins come in.
Instead of focusing only on the big stuff, start building in bite-sized moments of value:
- Quick wins. Tag a member on social media, send a personal welcome message, or give a shoutout in your newsletter. It’s easy and makes them feel noticed.
- Milestone moments. “You’ve been a member for 3 months—here’s a guide other new members found helpful.” Or, “You’ve attended 2 events—want to try this one?”
- Gamify it. Track things like first-time attendance, referrals, or directory completions and celebrate them. People love feeling like they’re checking things off a list.
Bottom line: We stick with things when we feel we’re making progress. And that progress doesn’t have to be huge to matter.
You Need to Feel Like You’re Making Progress Too
Chamber work can be exhausting. You’re juggling advocacy, events, retention, a board of directors, and a community full of business owners—all while trying to grow membership and not lose your mind.
When you’re in that whirlwind, it’s easy to miss the progress you are making. But what we give our attention to multiplies. Consider this. You’re in the market for a new car. You select a brand and a color. Then you leave the lot. Suddenly, you see your car everywhere. Is it because you are a trendsetter, and everyone ran out and bought the exact make and model in your color? Of course not (to the buying the same car, not to you being a trendsetter). Those cars were always there. You’re just noticing them now because they are top of mind, and you have a personal connection to them.
That’s why you want to start paying attention to your small wins, too.
The small stuff can multiply into big wins, such as:
- A member told you they landed a client from your event. Pretty great.
- A city staffer thanked you for your input. That’s a win.
- You got through your entire to-do list (for once)? Celebrate that.
If you lead a team, build this into your culture. Have each person share one “win of the week” at staff meetings. Post it on a whiteboard. Put it in Slack. It’ll lift morale and remind everyone that yes, things are moving forward.
Break Down Big Goals Into Smaller Milestones
Boards love annual goals and strategic plans. “100 new members this year!” “Raise $75K in sponsorships!” But those numbers can feel overwhelming—and a little abstract—if you don’t break them down.
Behavioral research says people are more motivated by goals that feel achievable and close at hand. So instead of pushing the big year-end number, try cumulative small wins instead, such as:
- 10 new members by the end of the month.
- $5K in sponsorships this quarter.
- 80% attendance at the next signature event.
Track progress visually if you can. Make it feel real and visible. Everyone, from your board to your intern, will feel more motivated when they see the momentum. Plus, it doesn’t change your end goal. It just gives you something to celebrate along the way.
Make Advocacy Feel More Tangible
This one’s tricky. Advocacy is one of the most valuable things chambers do, but it’s also one of the hardest to show results for, because policy change takes forever and usually happens behind closed doors.
That’s why celebrating small advocacy wins is so important:
- Did you get a seat at a policy roundtable? Tell members.
- Did your letter of support get quoted at a city council meeting? That’s newsworthy.
- Did you help a local business navigate a new regulation or permitting issue? That’s impact.
Your members may not always follow every ordinance or bill, but if they hear about regular wins—big or small—they’ll know you’re fighting for them.
Use Simple Nudges to Drive Engagement
Nudging is the use of small prompts or design tweaks that help people act without needing to overthink it.
You can apply this idea in several simple ways, such as:
- Auto-registration. Instead of inviting members to register for events, try pre-registering them and letting them opt out. (Just don’t do this for something that requires a headcount for catering.)
- Text reminders. A friendly “See you tomorrow at Business After Hours!” can bump attendance.
- Social proof. “Over 60 member businesses have already used this program—have you?”
- Early commitments. Ask new members to set a goal: “What’s one thing you want to do with your membership in the first 3 months?”
People are busy and distracted. A little nudge at the right time can make all the difference.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Running a chamber is a marathon full of pivots. Some days you’re a policy pro, some days you’re a party planner, and some days you’re just trying to get through 100 unread emails.
But here’s the thing: progress is happening. And when you learn to see it, celebrate it, and build it into your strategy, everything starts to shift. Members stay longer. Staff members feel more energized. Your board gets more engaged.
And you? You remember why you started doing this in the first place.
So, take this as your nudge: This week, write down three small wins. For your members. For your team. For yourself.
Small steps. Big difference.
