by Tom Okarma | Feb 9, 2012 | Blog, Board Development, Governance, Leadership
Leaders have very little time to set a new tone, to begin installing a new DNA into an organization. The popular take on this is 100 days…give or take. That’s why I really like the way Theo Epstein and his new crew of leaders have literally torn into the Cubs...
by Tom Okarma | Jan 24, 2012 | Blog, Board Development, Governance, Leadership
It seems to me almost all nonprofits whether faith-based or secular think if they can just hammer out a good Mission/Purpose Statement (What It Does), Vision Statement (What It Will Become), and Values Statement (What It Believes), then they have pretty much got...
by Tom Okarma | Jan 11, 2012 | Blog, Board Development, Governance, Leadership, Strategic Planning
Last week I introduced this discussion about my friend having the right kind of board serving her organization. Briefly, I told her it depended on where her organization was in its life cycle and what it needs to succeed. Today, in part two I share more of my...
by Tom Okarma | Jan 5, 2012 | Blog, Board Development, Governance, Leadership, Strategic Planning
I was recently asked by a friend of mine about the difference between an organization having a board of directors versus a board of trustees. He is trying to determine which model best helps him grow and refocus his small but successful organization. He wants to grow...
by Tom Okarma | Dec 15, 2011 | Blog, Leadership, Strategic Planning
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...
by Tom Okarma | Dec 14, 2011 | Blog, Leadership
Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to an organization is growth. Now, growth can be a good thing-in fact a very good thing- when your talking about professionalism, donor contribution levels, bank balances, staff development, and more. But if you lead a...