“Leadership” – Articles
Electrify Your Sleepy Directors
Fall is planning time for most nonprofit executive directors and board CEO'S. Two questions you may be asking yourself are: How can I get more out of our current board next year? Or, How can I re-awaken and fire up those solid directors who "checked out this past...
5 Unspoken Thoughts of Your New Board Members
With the end of the calendar/fiscal year approaching, many nonprofit boards will be undergoing important change. New directors are coming and term-expired directors will be leaving. Thank you to both groups for your service. Change is never easy but it is necessary...
Transformational Thinking on Board Recruitment
On a trip out west recently I visited a nonprofit organization that just blew me away. I have written in the past about the importance of strategic alignment and impact in the past and this organization has it all--and then some. I thought I'd share some information...
Harvesting a Team of New Key Partners
I recently met with a board president and Executive Director wanting to rebuild their board, generate new "buzz" around their brand, and increase the number of strategic partners. They had been operating "very thin", of late. The agency needs a shot in the arm with...
This Time Around, get Edgy!
With Fall just about upon us, thoughts naturally turn toward planning for 2014, year end board meetings, and next year's budget. In other words, a lot of deep thinking on some important issues. Before you default into your normal year end mindset though, why not...
Why Your NP Board Gets Nothing Done
I talk to a lot of board members and board chairs in my travels and one complaint I hear quite often, is "We just don't seem to get anything done. How can we make progress during our term in office?" I get this a lot! Sound like your board? Directors tell me they...
A Full 180 Degree Turn
It won't come as a shock to many of you that I am a big sports fan. Always have been, always will be. For the record, I pull for any team with "Chicago" on its jersey--even soccer-tho I have no idea why people like that sport. And yet, while I follow each team, I...
Transform Your Nonprofit Board-Part-3 of 3
We are in a discussion of how to improve your nonprofit board's impact and execution through four transformational practices. So far, we've discussed: Consistency: how a Board Policy Manual, a strategic plan, and thoughtful board make-up can build in process, focus...
Transform Your Nonprofit Board-Pt. 2
Last time, I identified four keys to transforming your board through authentic leadership. They are: Consistency, communication, execution, and accountability. I discussed consistency last week. This week, I'll cover communication and execution. Keys to Communication:...
Transform Your Nonprofit Board–Pt. 1
Some might think it is easy for ministry boards to provide authentic leadership to their organizations. Consider: we all work for the same owner -- God, we all share the same ultimate purpose -- building God’s Kingdom here on earth for all eternity, and we all operate...
Who fixes a Weak Board?
Who's responsibility is it to fix a weak nonprofit board that no longer adds value, when the organization's needs exceed what the current board can provide? Who's job is it to be sure the organization has the right board composition to take the organization to the...
Authentic Board Service is Messy
Board candidates and directors want to serve on boards that make an impact but not all of them are willing to pay the price to either exercise, or follow, authentic leadership to do so. And, unless you provide challenging and meaningful board experiences to your...
The Unavoidable(?) Leadership Silo
Most nonprofit leaders share many traits: passion for the mission, effective communication skills to "tell the story", a cadre of devoted volunteers and leadership team, and an awareness of the need to always be looking for new ways to raise revenue. Well, there is...
“Upping” Your Nonprofit Board’s Game
The respected ECFA, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, recently released its Governance survey, taken by 1,600 CEO'S, Board Chairs and directors from its member agencies. One of the more interesting learnings coming out of the survey was an agreement...
When a Board Falls Short of Expectations
There must be something in the water around here. I've had coffee with four separate nonprofit executive directors over the last 45 days, each one with the same problem--actually two problems. Their first problem is each ED believes their board is not providing the...
Who’s Your Thomas?
Leader: Who's you Thomas? You know...the "Doubtful Thomas"...on your board? The one who is not afraid to question your nonprofit's plans, general assumptions, habits, and conventional wisdom. The one who isn't afraid to challenge the powers that be (you and the board...
Build that Authentic Team Now
How to develop the next generation of leaders, how to build leadership bench-strength, leadership development in complex organizations
Got Alignment?
If you stop to think about it, leaders can significantly increase the impact of their nonprofit agencies without spending an extra dime. Say what? Let's say your agency has: Experienced leadership-CHECK! A clear and compelling strategic plan-CHECK! The respect and...
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