by 0187289787602 | Feb 1, 2016 | Advice, Featured, Management
I recently reflected with a friend about our employment experiences, and one of the situations we agreed we didn’t like was, upon delivering a resignation notice, being asked, “What would it take to make you stay?” The question sounds good on its surface, but, as an... by 0187289787602 | Jan 25, 2016 | Advice, Featured, Management
The nonprofit sector is inarguably largely comprised of workers who are personally committed to what they are doing and to the organizations they serve. Typically, that personal commitment runs deep. Really deep. It is also no secret that there is a consistent problem... by 0187289787602 | Dec 14, 2015 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Job search preparation is not just for the candidates. On the other side of their searches are important openings employers want to fill with the perfect fit. Attracting and having an offer accepted from that ideal candidate takes a lot of careful consideration,... by Ivy Alphonse-Leja | Nov 16, 2015 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
In a world of fast fixes and articles that focus on a “get rich quick” business angle, Stephen Key offers his version of the tell-it-like-it-is breakdown of what it means to be an entrepreneur in his article, “11 Truths About Being an Entrepreneur.” Key, a 30-year... by Ivy Alphonse-Leja | Nov 9, 2015 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
There is encouraging news for nonprofits. Millennials (twenty-something to thirty-something year olds) often seek alignment to a cause while defining their career choices. Organizations that are cause-based definitely have the advantage when Millennials shop for jobs.... by Ivy Alphonse-Leja | Nov 2, 2015 | Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Asking the difference between the definition of a leader and of a manager may seem redundant. After all, the two roles have overlapping responsibilities and requirements. In an article written by James Kerr, it is noted: “There’s a difference between... by Karen Alphonse | Dec 2, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Question: Our company is about to hire a new COO who will manage the whole finance department. We want to be very sure she has strong interpersonal and technical skills. We have spoken to all of her listed references, and, while they have been off the charts, I... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 11, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: I am at the top of my game having just been promoted into the CEO role at a major corporation. Yet, I am feeling strangely dissatisfied and lonely despite my professional accolades. It seems as if I attend meeting after meeting and as if I am not... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 9, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: I am a human resources officer, and our company wants to set up really effective professional development programs. How should we go about doing this? Answer: Kudos to you for thinking seriously about this. Many employees welcome the chance to grow and... by Karen Alphonse | Jul 29, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: I struggle to be the kind of boss my employees will respect and like. But, I am often confronted with shoddy work, poor employee attitudes and mistakes that shouldn’t be happening. What I am supposed to do? Can I continue to be nice while things fall... by Karen Alphonse | May 6, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: How can you tell good managers from bad ones? What sets them apart? A: No one deliberately sets out to be a “bad” manager. Therefore, I would reframe the question as one that focuses on a leader’s effectiveness. Effective leaders often have concrete ideas as... by Karen Alphonse | Mar 11, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: We are a group of entrepreneurs excited about making our socially responsible start-up a success. Part of that success is bringing the right kind of Executive Director on board. In our discussions, we are struggling with how to draft a compelling position... by Karen Alphonse | Feb 11, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
I recently read the Harvard Business School article, “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are,” (Cuddy, Amy. TED Global, October 2012 <http//:www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your-body_language>.) In summation, Cuddy, a B-School researcher and socio-psychologist,... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 12, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management
Q: How does the gender gap affect working women today? Have any strides been made since the Women’s Liberation movement to make women’s workforce issues a matter of public debate? A: Women have certainly made strides in terms of their visibility and the variety of... by Karen Alphonse | Nov 5, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: We hear so much about “leadership” these days. How do you define it? A: While I do not know how to define leadership in all of its scope, I can offer the working pieces that comprise its foundation: a set of attributes allowing one person to assume decision-making... by Karen Alphonse | Oct 8, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters
Q: I am part of the senior leadership team at a national not-for-profit. We are hiring a new executive director, and I was asked to review references for the two finalists. Most of the references were superb. However, there was a reference for one of the candidates... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 24, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: How do you put a diversity plan in place? A: The discussion about how to implement a winning diversity strategy is as intriguing as it is ongoing. I read a recent thread on this topic on LinkedIn where there were comments about identifying specific goals, figuring... by Karen Alphonse | Sep 10, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters
Q: I am a board member at a $10M non-profit in the North East. Our current Executive Director is coming up for review, and we are struggling with how to ask her to leave. The organization’s finances are in a pitiful state, morale is low, and, apparently, some key... by Karen Alphonse | Aug 27, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management
Q: We updated our fundraising department with new software that allows us annually to reach thousands of targeted prospects. Our current Development Director does not know how to work the software, and she is a bit of a technophobe. Already, we see gaps between how... by Karen Alphonse | Jun 11, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management
Question: We are running an Executive Director search for a small ($2M budget) non-profit in the tri-state New York area. We are not in a position to run a full-blown executive search at this time. What kinds of skills should we emphasize in our position...