nonprofit jobsThere’s a wide range of ideas – if not controversy — about whether it is in the realm of a funder to get involved in the day-to-day management goings on at a grantee.
While many nonprofits (and, for that matter, for-profit businesses) would benefit from some management guidance, is it something that should be required for funding?
From my experience working with leaders of all kinds, I have noticed many different styles and approaches can be effective depending on the context, situation, organization or personalities involved. But, there seem to be four essential characteristics that always need to be present. Even those who do not have an official title or leadership position can lead “from the seat” if demonstrating these qualities.
How fitting that the first letters of each quality form the acronym TEAM since the ability to create a sense of team is the gift of the most outstanding leaders.
For most of us, life takes us a different direction away from fame and fanfare. But, stop and think about how many times we not only imagine our own achievements but are also required to think forward, think positive, and think great!
The dog days of summer are upon us. Work – or seeking work – must continue, but we would rather be sitting under a tree or playing in the water. It is hard to feel stressed, overwhelmed or under pressure when the temperature is hovering around ninety degrees. Instead of fighting it, why don’t we use this lethargic time to review where we are and where we are going. Take a walk with me into a shady spot where you can refresh your thinking, slow yourself down, and, perhaps, emerge revitalized and a little more energized to tackle the challenges you are facing.
Independence Day got me thinking about the meaning of the word independence, which led me to wonder if I could come up with a strong, positive leadership trait for each letter of the alphabet. Here is my unscientific, yet empirical, list of qualities consistently demonstrated by leaders I admire
Are you one of those people who gets excited by new ways of doing things? Or, do you get frightened and prefer to stick with the tried and true? Does your organization management constantly try to look around corners and make pre-emptive changes in anticipation of shifts in market needs or customer behavior? Or, does [...]
We may not all be technologists, but we can certainly learn from some of the insights and observations made by leaders at the conference. We might even try applying some of their thoughts to our own situations.
For the past decade, I have had regular conversations with a woman who leads an academic department in a US university.
What’s the point of any organization? “To make money,” says the businessperson. “To fulfill our mission,” says the non-profit person. And so begins the false debate that keeps the two worlds separate and often leads to missed opportunities and wasted potential. If all organization leaders recognized that both financial viability and an inspiring mission are essential, they [...]
In a recent spring-cleaning effort, I decided to clear out some of the clutter and unnecessary detail that clogs my brain. My desk was clear (for a day, at any rate), my inbox was empty (for five minutes) and, as I started looking for some common themes in my client work to clarify and streamline [...]
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