Surprise, Leadership Matters
Jim Collins says he started the "Good to Great" research by insisting that there not be a "leadership" answer. Turns out, the research proved him wrong. Leadership does matter, if you hit what he calls a "level 5 executive," combining overarching ambition for the purpose of the organization with a ferocious will to get things done no matter what.
He admits with associations, it gets a little complicated. A business CEO can simply make a decision. In a complex membership organization, there are many "circles of power." It requires building a way to make the right decisions happen in the right way. Associations have a "legislative leadership" as opposed to "executive leadership."