Learning to Lead for Impact
leadership insight from Tom Okarma
the latest and greatest…
Can millennials and baby boomers work together to create better nonprofits?
No doubt about it, the Millennials are coming — in fact, they are already here… and they’re having a significant impact in both the business and nonprofit worlds. We Baby Boomer leaders can live in...
Do Women Make Better Nonprofit Leaders?
The 7 Characteristics That Give Women a Distinct Advantage After many years of serving in various leadership positions and with both women and men reporting to me, and even more years observing...
Even “Perfect” Strategic Plans Usually Overlook This Component
One of the most frequent assignments I am asked to take on when asked to work with a nonprofit board or its CEO is to help them get back on track, to help them get things going again. They contact...
Will Your Nonprofit Survive?
In 2013 alone there were more than 2.5 million nonprofit [501(c)(3)] started in the U.S. According to the SBA, nearly 50% of all businesses started — including nonprofit agencies — will fail within...
One of the Most Powerful Ways to Increase Fundraising
Effective fundraising and donor relationships are the lifeblood of a nonprofit. But many nonprofits tend to overlook one of the most critical — and yet often most effective — tools for improving...
70% of Nonprofit Leaders Identify as The DIRECTOR
Officially live only a few weeks, the Leadership Edge Quiz has already garnered a surprising amount of attention. But what was even more surprising — and we’ve double-checked the numbers — was some...
leadership
No More Nonprofit Board Problems in 2014!
Here are a few ideas to help ministry and nonprofit leaders work more closely (and pleasurably) with their boards. Who knows, maybe everyone will actually start enjoying board meetings! Reconnect regularly with each director, one-to-one if possible, to tap into their...
My Recent Trip to the Twilight Zone!
There must have been a full moon out recently. I had back-to-back meetings two weeks ago with two different nonprofits and thoughtI had entered the Twilight Zone. At my first meeting, members of a nonprofit board were complaining about their CEO's not doing what the...
Your Greatest Enemy: Today’s Success
Vijay Govindarajan is one smart cookie. He is the Earl C. Daum 1924 Professor of International Economics at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. I was fortunate to participate in a retreat he lead for our company when I was in the business world a while...
Every Director can Fundraise (Really!)
Getting directors to fundraise; how reluctant directors can get started
Maximize Your Nonprofit Board’s Performance in 2014: Here’s How
Time to set the tone for the new year. Your budget and goals may be set, but how about your board? Unless you want the board to simply roll into 2014 and repeat its (good, or average, or poor) performance from 2013 you'll need to do something to "up their game"....
True Confessions in the Board Room
Are your board meetings getting a bit routine and boring, especially as you negotiate through next year's goals and budget? Do you wonder if you are getting full and complete feedback and "best possible" thinking from your board of directors? Here's a quick way to put...
board development
Got Talent?
In a previous work life I had the privilege of getting to know and learn from a world class consultant-Dr. Ram Charan. His specialty is leadership and strategy and he consults with many of the most recognized companies in the United States. He has written many books...
Danger in the iPass Lane
Do you have iPass in your state? It is an electronic system to automatically pay tolls on a highway as you zip through the tollgates without stopping…without even thinking. Hold that thought. I don’t know about your nonprofit organization, but the ones I see have been...
Shaping the Organization’s Future
Have you ever had to rebuild a department, ministry, or an entire organization or church? Did you wrestle with how much to structure the process versus letting others handle it? We did. One of our departments had gone through a tough period. An ego-driven leader had...
Generational Change and Your Organization
With October quickly slipping away many organizations are hard at work developing business plans for the coming year. Others may be engaged in creating new long-range (whatever that means) strategic plans. For nonprofits and churches, that means leaders, board...
Shaping the Organization’s Future
Have you ever had to rebuild a department, ministry, or an entire organization or church? Did you wrestle with how much to structure the process versus letting others handle it? We did. One of our departments had gone through a tough period. An ego-driven leader had...
How to Find Your Future Top Performers
Churches, nonprofits, and businesses never seem to have enough top, or at least high level performers. Whether you need more volunteers, employees, or new board members, top talent is hard to find and tough to keep. Ever wish you could clone or reproduce your top...
strategic planning
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everything…
It All Starts At The Top!
Leading Teams, Leadership. Values, Management
A Bad Idea that Won’t Go Away
Board Chairs, Directors, and Executive Directors: Heads Up! I am pretty familiar with a substantial nonprofit that I think is making a big mistake. I see this happening from time to time in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. And the results of their doing...
Retaining High Capacity Directors
Paraphrasing an old joke- QUESTION: Know how to get a few good directors" ANSWER: Start with a lot of good directors. A couple of nonprofit boards I am somewhat familiar with are in the process of losing some good directors by their own personal choice, not due to...
Be Golden in 2013
Successful leaders are always looking for ways to increase their effectiveness and the impact of their organizations. So whether you are running a small or start up organization or if your firm had a tough 2012, now is the time to reboot and set yourself up for...
Challenge Your Team!
Leaders have a lot of responsibility-no doubt about it-yet some of the most important actions they can take can be boiled down to a few key actions that can have immeasurable impact. As we turn into final stretch of planning for 2013, what are the most important...
Gimme The One With A Limp Every Time!
I'll take a leader with a limp any day. How about you? Can there be a more effective leadership hire than someone who has been through real trials, who has been tested-perhaps bloodied and beat up a bit? We all learn through our mistakes and I've learned a lot through...
Who’s on First, What’s on Second?
Most nonprofit organizations run pretty well. I say pretty well meaning they are in the range of 5-6, with 10 being high. While they can always do some things better they are effectively serving their clients and working toward their vision. The ones I see that have...
Are You the Sage on Stage?
One of a leader's most important responsibilities to the organization and its staff is the development of subordinates. How do you handle this? Do you give others a chance to grow, to work on something a bit above their pay grade, to struggle with a complex issue? Or,...
Who Picks the New Directors?
I've been reading a lot about the recruitment of new nonprofit directors lately. It can be a controversial issue and unless your Board Governance Documents cover the process, it can lead to anything from hurt feelings to animosity. ED's and board presidents: How does...