Learning to Lead for Impact
leadership insight from Tom Okarma
the latest and greatest…
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’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...
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...
It All Starts At The Top!
"It all starts at the top." That's what my wife told me the other day as she inspected the wrapping job I had just finished on a Christmas gift. Apparently, my wrapping job fell short of her...
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...
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...
leadership
Go For It!
I’ve got to hand it to Chicago Cubs owner Tom Rickets. He is about to land one of the biggest fish in the professional baseball world talent pool. I’m talking about Theo Epstein, the current and about to be former, general manager of the Boston Red Sox. There is a...
Creative Friction-A Good Thing
When I led a for-profit company, we used to talk about “creative friction”- a condition whereby people with different opinions on a particular topic were encouraged to voice their opinions and provide evidence to substantiate their positions. It was very helpful in...
What’cha Doin’?
One of the most powerful tools a leader can employ is consistent communication. Does everyone (staff and volunteers) know your top three priorities? If you randomly asked them what key priorities simply had to be accomplished over the next year, how many different...
Giving Dupage
Successful executive directors and board members of nonprofit agencies know they must excel in certain key areas to carry out their mission and to make maximum impact in the community. Falter in these key areas and their agency’s span of reach and impact is...
All Together Now…
They say leadership is a lonely position. It’s true, but that doesn't mean you’re all alone. Often, it is better to open the door and let others have a chance to solve the big problems leaders face. I once led an organization that sold services through a terrific, and...
What’s the Score?
Most organizations have a plan for what they what to accomplish in a given year-maybe an elaborate one, maybe a simple one, but they have a plan. That's good. And, most organizations measure results and various other data. That's good, too. I've found, though, that...
board development
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strategic planning
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Collaboration / Teamwork
They say leadership is a lonely position. It’s true, but that does not mean you are alone. Often, it is better to open the door and let others have a chance to solve the big problems leaders face. I once led an organization that sold services through a terrific, and...
Metrics
They say if you want to improve something, start measuring it. School grades, weight, financial results; we measure a lot. But, do you measure what really counts-the activities that ultimately determine results? Do you know what key activities determine your...
360° Reviews
Have you ever considered conducting a 360° review on yourself? Do you know what they are? I was somewhat reluctant to go through one, but wow, what a useful experience! I wish I had done it earlier in my leadership career. A 360° review provides you (and you alone)...
Excellence in Execution
Have you ever felt your organization was not humming along as well as it could? Have you ever wondered if the organization was operating at peak efficiency? Do you suspect your departments are individual silos, resulting in missed opportunities to collaborate and add...
Serving the Client: Evaluation
Every company and leader says they are client-centered and are there to provide services that help them. And, most of the time, the services do. But, have you taken a close look at your clients lately? When was the last time you evaluated your current service...