The Tähtiseura programme helps clubs build goal-oriented, high-quality, and continuously improving operations. For Katriina Lahti, the club development specialist at the Dance Sport Federation, the most important thing is not the Star Label itself, but what happens within the clubs as a result of it.

Club development specialist Katriina Lahti has been supporting the development efforts of the Finnish Dance Sport Federation’s member clubs for ten years now. Her first exposure to club development, however, came much earlier, when she held various roles on the board of a dance sport club in Kuopio.  

– I developed a quality management system for my own club in Kuopio. We documented everything and mapped out our processes, which helped organise our operations and made them more systematic. Then we thought about our vision and strategy — that is, where we’re headed and how we’ll get there, says Lahti. 

This work also caught the attention of the Finnish Dance Sport Federation. In 2017, she was offered the position of club development specialist. 

– I didn’t hesitate for a moment; I replied right away, “Of course I’ll come!” 

Initially, the role focused on conducting audits as part of the Tähtiseura programme. She still performs these audits, but over the years, her role has expanded considerably. Today, in addition to audits, the club development specialist’s daily routine includes, among other things, club visits, regional club meetings, drafting guidelines, networking, and active participation in the federation’s operational activities. She has thousands of contacts with clubs each year. 

– I’m a full-time volunteer. I receive a small compensation, but above all, this is something I love and find incredibly rewarding. 

Decades of experience provide perspective 

Katriina Lahti was introduced to dance sport as early as the 1990s, when she began practicing standard and Latin dances. Her competitive career progressed successfully and rapidly all the way to Class A. In 2012, Lahti hung up her dance shoes, but her love for dance and the world of dance remained and even grew stronger. 

Over the decades, she has served on her club’s board, as an instructor, judge, and competition director, as well as a classifier for wheelchair dancers. Her repertoire is broad, and and this wide-ranging experience is enormously valuable in her work as a club development specialist. 

Katriina Lahti also has a long and successful career in production, financial management, and personnel management. One important lesson has stayed with her throughout her career: a good employer trusts people, encourages them, and gives them the freedom to do their work. She values this same kind of atmosphere and approach at the Dance Sport Federation as well. 

Her extensive work experience in administration and her diverse background in club activities are also reflected in her approach to club development. 

– Clubs are like small businesses, and the systematic approach familiar from the business world works exceptionally well in club activities as well. We need goals, actions, metrics, and ongoing evaluation. Goals without action are just wishes and dreams. You can’t expect change if you don’t do anything differently. The strength of the Tähtiseura quality programme lies precisely in its ability to turn goals into concrete action. 

The club development specialist supports clubs throughout the process 

The Tähtiseura quality programme provides clubs with a framework for developing areas such as leadership, administration, risk management, impact, and performance. A club development specialist works alongside the club throughout the entire process. 

– The decision to embark on the club’s development path within the Tähtiseura programme always comes from the club. I’m involved as a coach, tutor, and sparring partner — I guide, ask questions, and share my knowledge. I review matters with the club before the process begins and walk alongside them through the audit and beyond. 

Developing club activities is not about carrying out individual tasks, but about establishing a shared direction, setting goals, and engaging in continuous improvement. At its best, development means that the club takes a step back to look at its own operations from a new perspective. 

– If we always do things the same way, it’s pretty certain that we’ll be in the same situation next year. The key is for the club to first define its vision: what we’re doing, where we’re headed, and what strategy we’ll use to get there. 

When it is time for the audit, a club development specialist from a regional sports organisation also takes part. This provides the club with two perspectives on development and a deeper understanding of the regional context. 

The Star Label is a sign of continuous improvement  

The Tähtiseura programme provides clubs with a clear framework for developing their activities in a variety of ways. Katriina Lahti emphasises that it is important for clubs to understand that Tähtiseura status and the Star Label are not the end goal.  

– In the Tähtiseura programme, clubs don’t stand still. The most important thing is that their activities continue to develop. Tähtiseura clubs that have earned the Star Label are re-audited every three years. 

– Our federation also conducts an annual survey of the clubs. By all measures, the Tähtiseura clubs generally perform better than other clubs. And the association itself is audited once a year — after all, it has to meet the same criteria as the clubs, Lahti says with a laugh. 

Get volunteers by asking them 

People are the most important asset in club activities. However, you can’t just wait for volunteers to show up — you have to invite them to get involved. 

– It’s really important to personally invite people to join the club’s activities and to talk positively about what the club does. It doesn’t have to start with a big commitment. A small task can be the first step toward a bigger role later on, says Lahti. 

We must also listen to the voices of young people. 

– Unfortunately, the voices of young people are often not heard in club activities. Young people are always involved in Tähtiseura audits, especially when the club has a Star Label for the children and young people target group. As an outsider, it’s also easy for me to ask what they think. 

Three simple prompts sum up Lahti’s approach to club activities: ASK – PRAISE – THANK. 

The work makes a difference 

In her work as a club development specialist, Katriina Lahti is inspired above all by the opportunity to help clubs thrive and succeed. 

– Through my own background, I’m able to bring a new perspective and way of thinking to the clubs. I get a lot of positive feedback on my work. That’s when you know you’re doing work that’s impactful and effective. That’s something I really value. 

So the Tähtiseura programme isn’t just about the Star Label. It’s about direction, actions, and the desire to grow.  

– I hope the Tähtiseura programme will continue to be based on these same principles. It’s clear that things will continue to evolve, but I wouldn’t compromise on the Tähtiseura criteria. Common requirements that apply equally to everyone give the Tähtiseura programme as a whole significance, reliability and credibility, Lahti says.