Learning to Lead for Impact
leadership insight from Tom Okarma
the latest and greatest…
Put Passion back into your Nonprofit Board Meetings
If you’ve struggled to increase board meeting attendance, raise the energy level in your meetings, develop a clearer focus on your mission, or instill a fiery passion back into your boardroom, I...
A Tool to Minimize Strife on Your Board-Your Values
Military experts say once a battle begins the battle plan goes out the window. I am seeing evidence this also happening on nonprofit boards. In a couple of cases I’ve seen terrible damage done to...
You Need a Prickly Pair on Your Board
I love the desert, not just because that is where spring training of my beloved losers-The Chicago Cubs- practice but because of its unique vegetation. Cacti come in many different styles. Some say...
Team or Family: Your Choice
Leading a nonprofit is not easy. There are many interests to balance, many balls to juggle, many personalities to assuage, many clients to serve. It's been likened to herding carts. So, in order to...
Are You a Leader Worth Reproducing?
One of a leader’s primary duties is to grow and develop others. Just recently I began wrestling with a related question posed by a long-time friend of mine-Dave-who is in ministry.…Am I a leader...
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...
leadership
Quick-Start Your Board in 2013: Here’s How!
Now that the holidays are behind us and baseball’s spring training has begun, it’s time to insure the board is fully engaged in its work. For some, that means reconvening the current board. For others, it means welcoming several new board members to their first...
Show Up–Step Up–Speak Up!
My golfing buddy Brian tells me professional golfers have just three rules for their caddies: show up, keep up, shut up. Golf pros usually aren't looking for advise unless they specifically ask for it. They only want their caddy to be there when required and do their...
It’s Still Not Too late
Leaders and Board Members: Starting to feel guilty you did not prepare or update a strategic plan for your orgnanization's next 24-36 months? Even thought it is mid-December you still have time to develop a strategy and a plan. Its not rocket science and when your...
Sometimes, Singin’ Ain’t Easy
When things are going well, people usually sing loudly and really belt it out. That’s when churches echo with perhaps off-pitch, shrill, and sometimes nasal but always high-spirited and heart-felt sounds of happy people singing their hearts out. All seems right with...
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...
board development
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strategic planning
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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...
Marketing vs Development
Having great marketing, advertising, and PR plans are great first steps in assuring your organization has adequate financial resources to carry out your mission. But is it enough? I say no. The finest website, the classiest brochures, even the snappiest messaging are...
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...