A recent survey on boards by a community bank trade group highlights issues pertinent to not just banks but also to nonprofit organizations. While many board members are “baby boomers” and getting older many boards have avoided the issues of term limits. This is a touchy subject as many are “founders” and feel a […]
Can Nonprofits Meet the Challenge of Social Change?
There is a movement afoot that supports “collective impact” by nonprofits. That is, for agencies serving similar (or the same) target populations, they should consider collaborative planning and actions with government, funders, and foundations, to better maximize resources. With trends that predict less government funding and an exponential need for services, proponents of […]
“Business Coaching & Mentoring for Dummies”
Book Review by Michael D. Kogutek “ Business Coaching & Mentoring for Dummies” Marie Taylor & Steve Crabb, John Wiley & Sons,Inc. (2017) The title of this book is a total misnomer. This is not a book for dummies but one for mentors and coaches who want to develop their professional skills. The […]
Is turnover higher than you would like?
Then maybe you need to look in the mirror and see if you have been a factor in that number. A recent poll by BambooHR found that 44% of respondents said that very thing. Specifically, they pointed to a boss’s management style, condescending attitude, temperament inappropriate behavior and harassment as top reasons for leaving. […]
Learning from Failure
Most of us have experienced failure at some point in our lives – lost a job we wanted, lost a promotion, lost a contract or grant. I recently read an article that put a different spin on failure – learning from the experience. After enduring the disappointment, what comes next? With a mindset […]
Employee Improvement
Indulging in our favorite foods is wonderful but can be unhealthy at times. Too much chocolate, ice cream and cake can add those calories very quickly and cause you problems. In the same vein playing favorites with employees can also result in negative results. We are all human so we tend to gravitate to […]
Are You Prepared? The Breach of Data Security
I recently wrote about the benefits of data as a public relations tool – especially when the IRS Form 990 is available to the public. I would be remiss if I didn’t address the possibility of such data being hacked. “The philanthropy community is still catching up to the digital security needs faced […]
5 Traits of Effective Bylaws
Bylaws can be intimidating and complicated. Benjamin Miller from the Community Legal Education Group,Ontario, Canada writes a very concise and pragmatic article on the topic.He has given me permission to reproduce this article. No matter how good your bylaws are in theory, if they don’t get used, they aren’t effective. Here is a list […]
A Guide to Succession Planning
Succession planning is one of the hardest activities that non-profits take the time to consider. I was recently given a document that I feel every non-profit leader should read. This is because it provides every single consideration, every step, and many resources for completing the task. It is called, ‘Building the Organizations:Succession Planning […]
“One Minute Mentoring” Book Review
“One Minute Mentoring” Ken Blanchard & Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Harper Collins (2017) This small and simple book packs a punch. Ken Blanchard, author of the best-selling “One Minute Manager”, and Claire Diaz-Oritz bring much wisdom to the table for managers and prospective mentors to take in. This book is for both mentors and mentees. Mentoring […]