by Tom Okarma | Mar 11, 2011 | Blog, Board Development, Leadership, Strategic Planning
Back in January I posed these questions and asked you to consider them…“If I were creating my organization TODAY, what is the best way to set it up? Are we organized that way? What is getting in the way of our ideal envisioned structure?” Today, I’d like to take this...
by Tom Okarma | Mar 8, 2011 | Blog, Board Development, Governance, Leadership, Strategic Planning
Smart leaders are always looking for ways to manage their expenses better, increase revenue, or work smarter, especially during these days of uncertainty. In this environment, looking for ways to do things better has to be job one! One overlooked tool that can...
by Tom Okarma | Mar 1, 2011 | Blog, Board Development, Leadership
When nonprofit agencies think about risk management and protecting themselves, they usually think in terms of someone slipping and falling, auto accidents, insurance, etc. But they fail to address what may be their most critical off-balance sheet asset-their...
by Tom Okarma | Feb 17, 2011 | Blog, Leadership, Strategic Planning
I’ve been thinking about how one’s perspective heavily influences his or her opinions, decisions, and actions. Just ask a Chicago Cubs fan about the White Sox, or a Yankee fan about the Red Sox. Now baseball may not be a matter of life and death (OK, I stand...
by Tom Okarma | Feb 14, 2011 | Blog, Leadership
Nothing spreads faster in an organization-or possibly could be more damaging to one-than when a leader tolerates unacceptable performance from an employee. Word gets around fast. It weakens the leader’s influence, “demotivates” top performers, and can put overall...
by Tom Okarma | Feb 8, 2011 | Blog, Board Development, Leadership, Strategic Planning
Remember early in your career, just before it really took off, and before you had made a name for yourself? You probably were in some lower-level position just doing what you were told as best you could, and trying hard to be a good team player. Then, one day your...