Are you looking for a way to inspire yourself and others? Whether you’re leading yourself, a team or a whole organization, being able to inspire and motivate is a key to success. Recently, I heard someone give a talk on High-Impact Goals as a tool for creating meaningful success. A key point she made […]
Improving the Strategic Planning Process
Nonprofits usually start their strategic planning process in the summer. An organization begins to evaluate successes and disappointments and starts to think about possible expansions or adjustments. In the many strategic planning sessions I have facilitated, there are often three roadblocks that surface. How to set the stage for a successful outcome […]
The Golden Rule of Leadership
As a leader do you ever wish your employees would do this or that? If you have a supervisor, do you day dream that your boss would this or that? I’m sure we’ve all had these thoughts at some point. It’s common for people to have an expectation of what they would like from […]
Who’s the Boss: Board or Executive
How do you manage the strong-willed, assertive Board member who dominates discussions, stops in to visit staff, and never misses advising the Executive Director (ED)? Yes, it takes tact and diplomacy, but also some rules. The ED reports to the Board, the whole Board and not just an individual. For example, a staff person […]
The Blame Game
Have you ever played the Blame Game? Maybe you have and you don’t even realize it! Did you miss out on a promotion and blame your co-worker because he kisses up to the boss? Did you not get the funding you’ve been working on and blame it on xyz? Did you get laid off […]
Have You Thought About Cyber Insurance?
Having proper insurance coverage is vital in any risk management plan. In today’s world being covered for fire, theft, internal fraud, business interruption and general liability is not enough because one of the major causes for losses is cyber theft. Some businesses and nonprofits are more reliant on their computer sites than others but […]
Book Review: “Give and Take” by Adam Grant
Adam Grant,Ph.D. is a professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the Wharton Business School. There he is engaged in research and teaching cutting edge ideas about leadership and managerial styles. In “ Give and Take”, Adam categorizes people at work as givers, takers and matchers. The givers are a breed of people […]
SIX QUICK WAYS TO IMPROVE BOARD MEETINGS
Having recently attended a Board meeting in which a Board member asked for this help in being a more effective participant, I thought I would pass along her suggestions. Provide nametags or table tents. Tents are better because they can get left for future meetings more easily. This especially […]
The Changing Nature of ‘Communications’
Remember how communications worked in the past? The boss had the information and made the decisions, reporting relationships mattered, and one knew the chain of command. A recent article captures the essence of the change. “Old power is like currency, it is held by few, it is closed, inaccessible, and leader-driven. It downloads and […]
LEADING A TEAM- 10 Tips to Success!
Charged with leading a team and not quite sure what to do? You are not alone. Let’s see what we can do to simplify this mystery. Here are some tips on team leadership: Create and hold the vision. Let them know “where” they are going. A mission often tells the […]