“Leadership” – Articles
Why People Give
Seth Godin is one smart guy. I like reading his "take" on things. Sometimes he makes my head hurt but he always makes me think. Not by using outrageous examples but by his thoughtful and common sense perspective. (He is speaking later this week at a leadership...
When The Leader Retires
I recently agreed to serve as co-chair of our nonprofit's search committee to replace the current president and founder. He will be retiring with the next year or so. He has a wealth of information, wisdom, relationships, and passion. Needless to say, replacing him is...
Six-Month Check Up
Now that we are past June 30, it’s a good time to take a look under the hood. How are things going in your organization so far? It’s not too late to make critical adjustments to get back on track if results and performance are falling short of expectations. Revenue...
The Perfect Search
I came across a very good book about executive searches for nonprofits recently. It is loaded with suggestions and observiation based on real life experience. The Perfect Search by Tommy Thomas could be a terrific resource for you if your nonprofit is about to launch...
Merit Pay-Just Do It!
It seems obvious to me that if you reward desirable behavior you will get more of it and if you don't, performance will eventually level off and fewer people may go that proverbial "extra mile". Complacency and an entitlement mentality can work its way into your...
Healthy Discomfort-a Good Thing
The margin of success is pretty thin these days, whether you are leading a for-profit company or a nonprofit organization. Makes no difference. So, anything you can do to improve your product, service, or effectiveness is critical. And, if your organization has...
A Winning Formula for Success
In these days of tight budgets and a limited pool of available philanthropic dollars, nonprofits need a crisp, clear, and compelling message-one that grabs peoples’ attention and clearly demonstrates the purpose and foundational basis for its work. Donors want to give...
Time for Revenue Plan B?
OK, so your donations may not be coming in at levels you thought this year but at least you are still pretty much on budget. You still need to be aware of a clear and present danger that has recently reared its head. I’m talking about the nation’s desire to address...
Still on Track…?
Now that we are well into 2011, it is a good time to assess progress on those priorities you set in your 2011 plan. First, are the “main things” you identified last fall still your “main things” or do you need to re-assess your key initiatives? And perhaps more...
Building Hope One Nail at a Time
Agencies that serve the basic needs of low-income people are seeing record requests for help and most are under considerable strain. But I recently spoke to one with a compelling story and an enviable track record of success that is thriving, even in this economy. Do...
Transparency
I just read an article in the Chicago Tribune about a recently elected politician who has requested and received $200,000 from several large nonprofit foundations to fund transition costs as he prepares to take office. I have to admit I was a bit surprised to hear...
Engaging Gen Y
One comment I hear executive directors make with some regularity is how they wish they could figure out how to expand their volunteer and donor base to include younger people. I notice, though, that in practice these same executive directors continue to do the...
The Toughest Kind of Change
Back in January I posed these questions and asked you to consider them…“If I were creating my organization TODAY, what is the best way to set it up? Are we organized that way? What is getting in the way of our ideal envisioned structure?” Today, I’d like to take this...
Best Practices
Smart leaders are always looking for ways to manage their expenses better, increase revenue, or work smarter, especially during these days of uncertainty. In this environment, looking for ways to do things better has to be job one! One overlooked tool that can...
Your Greatest Asset
When nonprofit agencies think about risk management and protecting themselves, they usually think in terms of someone slipping and falling, auto accidents, insurance, etc. But they fail to address what may be their most critical off-balance sheet asset-their...
Helping Today’s Clients
I’ve been thinking about how one’s perspective heavily influences his or her opinions, decisions, and actions. Just ask a Chicago Cubs fan about the White Sox, or a Yankee fan about the Red Sox. Now baseball may not be a matter of life and death (OK, I stand...
Managing Out Poor Performers
Nothing spreads faster in an organization-or possibly could be more damaging to one-than when a leader tolerates unacceptable performance from an employee. Word gets around fast. It weakens the leader’s influence, “demotivates” top performers, and can put overall...
Give ’em a Chance
Remember early in your career, just before it really took off, and before you had made a name for yourself? You probably were in some lower-level position just doing what you were told as best you could, and trying hard to be a good team player. Then, one day your...
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