Blog
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A fascinating video about motivation
The question I keep asking myself after repeatedly re-watching this video is: what are the implications for nonprofit organizations? Some implications are fairly straightforward: For example, with very few exceptions,…
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Thoughts on Engagement Organizing
I recently had the opportunity to read an excellent white paper by Jon Stahl and Matt Price on the topic of Engagement Organizing. It’s well worth the read. Here’s the…
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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
I recently reviewed The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni. The book is part fable and part logical argument about a series of dysfunctions that Lencioni believes lay…
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Clarifying the “why” when doing strategic planning
Often times in early conversations with clients, it becomes clear that they can’t articulate why they’re doing strategic planning. This can lead to disagreements about what process to utilize, since…
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Get it done
I sometimes feel like there’s two types of people, those who talk about doing things and those that do them. Talkers tend to talk a good game at first, but…
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Nonprofit leadership traits
In doing their hiring processes, most boards focus on what skills they want their Executive Director to have. In my experience, it’s equally if not more important to identify the…
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Tips for being innovative
Lots of groups say they value innovation. But it’s harder to say that than to do it. If you want to encourage out-of-the-box thinking in your organization, here are some…
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Don’t take board relationships for granted
It’s easy for Executive Directors to take their board for granted when it comes to their time. You already get their input at board meetings and through formal processes. They…
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Some opening thoughts on leadership
I expect this to be the first of many blog entries on leadership. I’ve been thinking about leadership as I’ve surveyed the landscape of organizations with whom I’ve worked or…
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Time is your most precious commodity
I recently wrote an article about the perils of chasing money and other shiny objects. That article didn’t do justice to one reason why this type of mission and strategy…