Category: General

I’m returning this week, finally able to put thoughts into words.

Two weeks ago, my brother-in-law Jim died suddenly. Life was challenging for him, yet he was full of love and laughter. It was around the same time my mother began receiving hospice care.

Last Wednesday I sat with my mom for the last time. As she lay there, I prayed and reflected.

My mother, many years ago, planned her own funeral. From time to time she would revise the plans. One hymn that she wanted my daughter to sing, in celebration of her life, was the Prayer to St. Francis. As I sat with her, knowing she was dying, a line from that hymn ran through my head.

Grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console

I pulled up the song on You-Tube and played it for her. As I listened, I thought about why it mattered so much to me at that moment.

The words, about giving rather than receiving, beautifully reflect how my mother lived her life.

It reminds me of why my mom was called to work with nonprofits and why I followed in her footsteps. A focus on serving, rather than being served, was passed down from my grandmother to my mother, and to me.

Who inspired you to do the good work you do? How did you find your purpose?

As I work through my grief, I feel deeply committed to continuing to fulfill my purpose: to honor, celebrate, and inspire great nonprofit leadership.

I hope you’ll listen to this lovely hymn, even if it is not in your faith practice, the message seems universal to me.

Make me a channel of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace

Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving of ourselves that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Every organization needs a good board. Yet new organizations seem to have trouble figuring out why the need them and where to find them. Even established organizations struggle to have an active board.

I’ve seen all kinds of board members – rich, poor, arrogant, meek. Some work hard, really hard, to make the organization a success. Others show up, on occasion.

Let’s look at why you need board members, how to find them, and how to build a great board.

Why do you need board members?

Let’s quickly get the legal requirement over with. Yes, you have to have board members when you register your nonprofit, the number varies by state.

Now, the more important reasons you need a (great) board:

1. Board members broaden your reach. Each member comes with their own network of friends, associates, and neighbors.
2. Board members represent the community you serve. The more diverse your board, the more connections you have to people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, religions etc.
3. Board members bear gifts. Not every board member will make a large financial contribution (some will), others will be active volunteers, or provide expertise, or be great connectors.

Where and how will you find these great board members?

Start where you are:

1. Speak and listen. Share the vision of your organization. Pay attention to who shares your values and goals for a better world. They make the best board members because they are already committed to your cause.
2. Cast a wide net. Don’t limit yourself to the richest, whitest, or most successful. Influence and money matter but so do diverse voices, hard workers, and committed volunteers.
3. Use available tools. Check your community volunteer bank, post on websites like Board Source. Look for those who fill a need (marketing, finance, legal) but keep your eyes open for others who may bring a new voice or perspective.

How do you build a great board?

1. Provide a great introduction to the organization. Plan and deliver an upbeat, thorough, and compelling tour. Include stories! Your goal is to inspire first, educate second.
2. Stay connected. The new board member is part of your expanding network. Make introductions, provide information and resources, keep in touch. Discover the best way to communicate with your board, as a whole, and with individual members.
3. Remember, as a founder or Executive Director, you report to the board. While you will need to be actively engaged in getting a board up and running, it will take on a life of its own. And that’s as it should be.

Your organization will succeed with a good board. A good board is hard working, enthusiastic, skilled, diverse, and representative of your community.

You’ll want board members to fulfill a legal requirement, and, more importantly, to work with you to build a strong, sustainable organization. You will find them by sharing your story and seeking those who share your vision. Finally, you will build a great board by starting strong and continuing to stay connected, while respecting their role as board members.

The past year has given us a new perspective – and new challenges. These changes remind us that with crisis comes opportunity. Big leaps forward have historically come from crisis. Twenty years ago there was a financial crisis and one result was the gig economy. Prior to that you wouldn’t have thought of paying to sleep in someone’s extra bedroom or using your own car as a taxi service.

Crisis challenges you to see things in a new light, sometimes because you are forced to, and the result is progress.

These changes impact all sectors of our economy, including nonprofits. Many businesses – nonprofit and for-profit – did not survive the COVID 19 crisis, increasing community needs and depriving residents of resources. Additionally, the nonprofit sector has been called on to the lead the movement for diversity, equity and inclusion.

This is a moment in time, you are called to act. That is all the more reason to be aware of the threats and opportunities and to prepare for a brighter future for all.

Here are some crisis/opportunity challenges that are impacting nonprofit leadership today:

Untethered workers.

Being in the right place is no longer a requirement. Technology has opened communication, giving us quick, easy, and cheap global interaction. Geographic restrictions and limitations have been completely rethought as a result of the quarantine for Covid19. Yes, working remotely is possible!

How this impacts your communication:  Nonprofits are challenged to find ways to stay connected internally and externally. When clients don’t have internet access, solutions have to be found so that communication continues. Previous geographic boundaries may not matter, giving you a broader reach for volunteers and donors.

We’ve got company.

New categories of businesses including B Corps, Public Benefit Corporations, and Social Enterprises are reshaping the way a purpose driven organization operates. At the same time, corporations are finding value in addressing social issues. Nonprofits might look to them as partners or models for restructuring organizations.

How this impacts your communication: It’s time to open up the conversation, seek partners, and look at what your organization can do differently or better. Could you run a for-profit business in support of your vision?

A generation of activists.

More than ever, organizations have well-educated work forces. New employees expect to contribute right from the start. Smart, motivated workers join nonprofits with the expectation of making a contribution to society. The forward-looking for-profit companies (above) may offer employees a better work experience.

How this impacts your communication: Include everyone in the conversation so that all employees are heard and have an opportunity to speak. Pay attention to what the new workers bring: tech skills, diversity, and a fresh voice. Find ways to empower everyone to be a force for change in the community.

Many voices.

Recent events have awakened us to the fact that there is work to be done to make our organizations truly diverse and inclusive. Nonprofits have the opportunity to lead the way in ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity. Internally, your organization benefits from hearing many perspectives and experiences.

How this impacts your communication: Organizations that empower many voices to speak and listen will be richer and more diverse. This allows you to reach and serve a broader community and multiplies the number of connections and opportunities open to you.

Let’s get together.

For years there has been talk about mergers and collaboration, but little action. The time has come to move forward together. This may be simply a means of survival. On a deeper level, if your organization is committed to a vision, then everyone else committed to that same vision is an ally (not competition). If you are focused on the vision, your organization will find liked minded partners.

How this impacts your communication: This is the time to identify which other organizations share your vision. Be the catalyst that starts the conversation about making a greater impact together.

These and other trends will impact how you work. Communication is the starting point for change, progress, and opportunity.

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Not all leaders are the same. In fact, the only thing they all have in common is a willingness to step forward and make something happen.

When you are planning to run a meeting, facilitate a workshop, or chair an event, it helps to think about your style first.

Think of yourself as a Leader at the Center, rather than “the boss.” A loud or dominant personality isn’t required, being well organized and purposeful will bring you greater success. Knowing it all is certainly not necessary, your job is to allow others to contribute.

Your leadership style is formed from your personality. It may be further influenced by great leaders you have known, worked for, or observed. With practice, you’ll be good at adapting your style to the group’s needs.

Which style are you?

1. Visionary – This style will serve you well when you need to map the way and set expectations. It’s both engaging and energizing, without being bossy. If your team members are uncertain and need your guidance, this will feel comfortable even if you are new to leading. It’s a great opportunity to share predetermined, common goals, and allow others the choice on how to achieve them.
2. Pacesetting – Sometimes you need to be the one who sets the pace. When you have an energetic team, ready to get to work, this style is a great fit. If the goal is to run fast and hard to the finish line, your energy and enthusiasm will be just what the group needs. If you find this is your default mode, be careful, most situations don’t call for a continued fast pace. Look at other styles that may serve you well and save this for the final sprint.
3. Fairplay – As you convene with your network of peers this may be your go-to style. Sharing information and encouraging participation are the means to an end. By opening the floor to everyone, you engender trust and promote team spirit. The result is a cooperative team, ready and willing to follow your lead.
4. Coaching – Sometimes your role is to help others see possibility or develop their talents. At those times your leadership role is coach. Like a sports coach, you are looking for the best in each team member and helping them develop their talents. You may find this style helpful when you have a new team member or when working together as a team really matters but isn’t happening on its own.
5. Collaborative – This is where your true value as a Leader at the Center comes into play. As a collaborative team leader, you bring your communication skills, diverse connections, and desire to convene to the table (or computer screen) to create change. This calls on you to imagine what is possible and inspire others to share the dream.

You could complete this list of leadership styles by adding one to each end. These extremes aren’t included because they are not recommended. At one end is the dictator and at the other is the do-nothing. Avoid them both!

I remember it so clearly: I had the opportunity to stand in front of a crowd and pay tribute to my dear friend, a retiring museum director. I also remember, as I got out of the car in the museum parking lot, I left my notes there. I didn’t need them, I had memorized the words I would say in her honor.

It started out fine. But then I lost my place.

I froze.

Not a word came out of my mouth. My brain was on overdrive, trying to find the exact words I wanted to say. Eventually, I mumbled something and walked off the stage.

Phew, that is still embarrassing twenty years later.

I’ve learned a lot since then and I’m happy to share with you the 5 tips that I will ensure you do better than I did:

1. Know the ONE message or lesson you want your audience to take away from your talk. The biggest mistake speakers make is having too many messages, trying to fit everything into one speech. You have one central theme to get across, everything you say supports it.
2. Memorize the first sentence and the last. Nothing else. You have words. Getting hung up on phrasing leaves you mute like I was at the museum. Make a simple bullet point outline, keep it in front of you, each item will be a cue and one will flow to the next.
3. Plan a speech that is shorter than your allotted time. It always goes longer than you anticipated. And a too-short speech beats a too-long speech!
4. Include one story – with vivid details, and a happy ending – that brings your message to life. Stories are remembered and retold. Use them to connect with your audience, the more personal the better. Here’s my magic formula for telling a story.
5. Make eye contact and use your body in a way that is comfortable for you. There is no right way to stand or move, do what feels good but definitely lock eyes occasionally to keep it real. If it is virtual, remember to look right at the camera!

Use these 5 tips to prepare and deliver a great speech. Seek out every opportunity to tell that speech, practice and repetition will make it better and better.