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Use your words.

“Great leaders must have two things: a vision of the world that does not yet exist and the ability to communicate that vision clearly.” Simon Sinek

Communication is a basic element of your success.

Think about your heroes. What do they all have in common? They speak, they tell stories, they get your attention through words.

Throughout history our most respected and memorable heroes are great orators, or great writers, or both. Whether they are founders, philosophers, politicians, scientists, leaders in religion, the art, or business, the most influential are also the best communicators.

From ancient Greeks to hip-hop artists, great communicators get attention!

Today, among your personal heroes may be an elected official, a speaker with a motivational podcast, or an inspiring author. They have a voice and they use it to connect.

That’s what great communication does.

Why does this matter to you?

When you become a strong communicator you have the power to influence people. You make connections.

As a nonprofit leader at any level, your communications will win advocates, donors and volunteers. They will make you and your organization stronger and more influential.

✔️Use your words to build a bigger, better organization.

✔️Use your words to attract donors.

✔️Use your words to make the world a better place.

Communication is a key to success. Start with a clear vision for a quick connection. The rest is magic. 

 

Merle Benny, author of Sparkle!, writes and speaks to inspire Nonprofit Champions. The discovery that happy healthy nonprofits raise more money and grow faster (and, in turn, make the world better) is the result of a lifetime of service to nonprofit organizations. Merle has raised millions, been the voice of numerous organizations and continually brought innovation to the sector. Merle is a developer and presenter of the Nonprofit Consultants Institute.

You need money. You need time. You need people.

You need me.

For over 20 years I’ve worked with nonprofit founders, leaders, boards, and dreamers to build stronger organizations, create memorable brands, increase funding, and become Leaders @ the Center™.

Build a stronger nonprofit, one that is ready for the future. Sharpen your vision, hone the message. Retain and inspire employees. Build strong, collaborative networks including funders.

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Onboarding: An Action Plan for Nonprofit Success

I read about a 3rd grade teacher, I’ll call her Ms. Smarts, who took an unusual approach. At the start of each school year she put aside the lesson plans. She ignored the usual curriculum.

Instead, for the first three months she worked at nurturing her students.

Ms. Smarts cared about her students self-esteem, teamwork, and potential. She wanted to give each of the students an opportunity to explore and experiment without grades or tests. She wanted learning to be fun, not intimidating.

Finally, once they were ready, she began the required lessons.

They soaked them up!

This story has always stuck with me. I wonder what would happen if we treated new employees, volunteers, and board members the same way.

What if we started with exploration and teamwork?

What if we allowed them to discover and share the vision of the organization?

Marshall Ganz, of Harvard Kennedy School, worked with the young campaigners for Obama in his first run for the presidency. He challenged them to explore three stories: the story of self, the story of us, and the story of now. This exercise prepared the recruits to go out and campaign, fully prepared to share compelling stories.

Like the 3rd grade students, the Obama recruits had the opportunity for self-discovery and teamwork before they went to work.

You already know the outcome of the Obama election.

Guess what happened with Ms. Smarts students…They came out ahead at the end of the school year! They achieved higher scores on the standardized tests and they were fully prepared to move onto 4th grade. 

You can adapt these approaches to fit your organization, here’s an Onboarding Action Plan to get you started (btw, this works for forming teams of existing employees and volunteers too):

  1. Share the vision. Give employees and volunteers a big picture view so they see where they fit today and also where they may go in the future. Encourage possibility. This is especially important for workers who may not be in the office or may be siloed in a department.
  2. Encourage gathering. Make teamwork part of the onboarding process, allowing time to get to know each other and encouraging sharing throughout the organization. Allow new recruits to use their voice and be part of exploratory conversations. Great ideas and tools are available at Liberating Structures (download the app). 
  3. Create your story library. Know and share the founder’s story and other essential tales of your organization’s founding and growth. These shared stories are the basis for a common knowledge, understanding, and commitment to the founder’s dream and the vision of the organization. They might be in writing or on video to share at events and social media.
  4. Collect stories. Create a way for your employees and volunteers to share their successes. I call them Minor Miracles, the little things that happen but might be overlooked. A mental health organization gives everyone an opportunity to share their miracle of the month. These add to the library, ready to be shared.
  5. Listen. Every person brings something unique and special to your organization. Make sure you hear what they say and honor their stories. Discover the unique qualities of everyone so you can identify how they fit in and enhance the organization.
  6. Facilitate connection. As you get to know your new employee, board member, or teammate, you will find lots of opportunity to make connections. As each person is enabled to build a network, the organization as a whole is strengthened. Network Weaver is a great source for resources and tools.

Every employee and volunteer has potential to contribute to your organization’s growth. It’s up to you to show them the possibilities. Creating a culture of sharing, storytelling, teambuilding, and connecting will build an organization ready for the future.

Merle Benny, author of Sparkle!, writes and speaks to inspire Nonprofit Champions. The discovery that happy healthy nonprofits raise more money and grow faster (and, in turn, make the world better) is the result of a lifetime of service to nonprofit organizations. Merle has raised millions, been the voice of numerous organizations and continually brought innovation to the sector. Merle is a developer and presenter of the Nonprofit Consultants Institute.

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On Becoming a Nonprofit Champion

Merle Benny

Nonprofit Champion is more than the name of the business I run. It’s even more that the work I do every day, supporting nonprofits.

It’s the result of a lifelong dream.

Merle Benny

It started when I was a Brownie (that’s a  young Girl Scout). I was in the second grade and my mother was the troop leader. I wasn’t very good at crafts, failed at selling cookies, and couldn’t carry a tune to save my life. I had skipped kindergarten, so I probably didn’t know a lot of important life lessons.

Then I heard about Juliette Low.

Learning how this woman (a bit eccentric but I didn’t know that yet) had started an organization just for girls was eye opening. It was not just my little troop, but there were other Brownies in other schools all over the country. Wow. That was impressive to my little beanie-wearing self.


Juliette became my idol. She taught me that girls matter. She taught me that you could create a movement and that movement was called a nonprofit.

I went on to learn a lot of things as a Girl Scout. Many of them impacted my life but nothing was more important to me than the simple lesson I learned from the Juliette Low story: If you have a vision you can create something much bigger than yourself.

I’d like to say that there was a straight path from that discovery until today. There was not. I did many things in my career, including a short (disappointing) stint working for the Girl Scouts. But as I used the leadership skills I learned in Girl Scouts and became successful in my marketing career, thoughts of her never went away. I knew I still wanted to inspire possibility like she did.

That dream landed me right where I needed to be. I began working with nonprofits, using my marketing communications expertise. I realized I did not want to be Juliette Low, I wanted to create Juliette Lows.

I’m sharing this story with you because it is the reason I champion nonprofit founders and leaders. It is also the reason I believe your possibilities are endless. Juliette Low started Girls Scouts 108 years ago. Imagine the millions of girls it has served! Imagine how much the lives of girls and women have changed in that time! Yet, it, like so many great organizations, has adapted and continues to fill a need. That’s what nonprofits do.

Juliette Low helped me discover my purpose. Today as I write and speak about adding Sparkle! to your nonprofit organization, I remember the story of Juliette and all the great founders I have had the honor of knowing and working with.

Dig deep for your purpose, tell your story. You can change the world. Act like Juliette, even if you are just starting your career.

 

 

Merle Benny, author of Sparkle!, writes and speaks to inspire Nonprofit Champions. The discovery that happy healthy nonprofits raise more money and grow faster (and, in turn, make the world better) is the result of a lifetime of service to nonprofit organizations. Merle has raised millions, been the voice of numerous organizations and continually brought innovation to the sector. Merle is a developer and presenter of the Nonprofit Consultants Institute.

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Lessons from the lectern, becoming a great speaker

I’ve made every public speaking mistake.

At one big event, I forget the words I had memorized and stood there like a dummy with my mouth open and nothing coming out. Embarrassing!

I’ve been boring, talked too fast, and read every word.

It took practice to get better. I had to take chances, get honest feedback, and seek out opportunities to speak. It was worth the effort.

You have a voice that deserves to be heard.

You have the power to recruit volunteers, attract donors, and inspire action. The better you communicate, the greater success you’ll have.

Good communication is the basis for nonprofit success.

Throughout history our most respected and memorable heroes are great orators, or great writers, or both. Whether they are founders, philosophers, politicians, scientists, religion, artist, or business leaders, the most influential are also the best communicators .

From ancient Greeks to hip-hop artists, orators use the stage and written words to get their message out.

Today, among your personal heroes may be a great conversationalist in your family, a speaker with a motivational podcast, or an inspiring author. They have a voice and they use it to connect.

Good communication is the basis for nonprofit success.

Explore opportunities to find your voice. Your organization needs you to share the dream and attract support. Practicing your communication skills is key.

You have the power to make a difference. It starts with communication. Look for opportunities to practice your speaking skills, get publicity, and spread the word. Here are opportunities to explore:

Toastmasters. Clubs all over the world give you the chance to practice and learn great speaking skills.

National Speakers Association. The regional and national club offer training and events.

Podcasts. Take a look at the podcasts for nonprofits, or for your cause. They are often looking for guests! Here’s a list of popular nonprofit podcasts.

Tours. Inviting people to come, hear, and see your work is a perfect way to practice your skills while benefiting your organization. Virtual or in-person, it’s a fun, smart way to make new friends for your cause while you become a great speaker. Learning to inspire people to care by telling your story in 10 minutes or so, is the best thing you can do for your organization.

Speaking. Look for easy entry points to the speaking world. Talk to a local group about your organization. Share your own story or your founders story with a group of volunteers. Accept invitations to sit on panels.

Your organization needs you – as a dreamer, messenger, and champion.

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Leader @ the Center

I loved Suzi the first time I met her. She was a new employee and the youngest person in the room. Yet, there was something about her.

Wherever she was things were happening.

As I worked with her on several different projects, I began to see what it was that made her so special. Suzi is a leader.

If we limit the idea of leadership to one person at the top, we don’t make room for people like Suzi. That’s a big loss.

The traditional nonprofit model limits leadership opportunities. This has made it difficult to attract and keep a motivated workforce. It’s time to take a fresh approach and recognize leadership at every level, in any role.

When you empower employees, volunteers, and board members by giving them the tools, resources, and confidence to speak, they contribute to building a diverse, sustainable community of support.

The first step is to appreciate the value of building an organization of great communicators. Download Merle’s ebook, The Secret to Nonprofit Success, to learn why you want to communicate your vision and how to get started.

When you begin to see communicators as leaders, leadership shifts. It is no longer limited to the top. You have empowered employees, board members, and volunteers, to speak up for the cause. This is Leader @ the Center™, a new approach to empowering individuals, activating strong networks, and building sustainable organizations. 

Why should you be a Leader @ the Center?

Leadership belongs to everyone who shares the organization’s Vision and builds a network.

This new leader is a connector, continually weaving a network and mobilizing an ever-growing system of support and caring.

Depending on the leader’s area of expertise and role in the organization and in the community, that network might be donors, foundations, business leaders, other nonprofits, service providers, volunteers, or any combination. The circle may also include service recipients, customers, and clients.

You, as a leader, are at the center of your own network.

Why should you encourage others to be?

The freedom that this new perspective gives to employees, board members, and volunteers is immeasurable. Now you have a large active team moving in different circles towards the same Vision. Remember, this happens simply by empowering everyone to communicate with confidence and passion about your work and the bigger dream for a better world.

This mobilization multiplies your impact. More connections lead to more contributions. More contributions lead to stronger progams. Stronger programs lead to greater outcomes.

No longer is the Executive Director going it alone. Now they are the team captain with a winning team, moving independently towards a shared goal. Leader @ the Center can exist in your current structure or be the catalyst for moving away from the hierarchal, pyramid model to a self-managed model.

Suzi isn’t bossy, she respects authority and understands her role, but she’s definitely a leader. She takes action on the spot. As Doug Sundheim writes in Forbes,* leadership is “critical and collaborative thinking and action given what you see in front of you.” That’s what sets Suzi apart.

You need Suzis at every level of your organization.

Here are some points to consider before moving on to creating messages and preparing Leaders @ the Center to connect. Empowering many to share the Vision addresses a range of existing problems and obstacles to success:

Capturing hearts. Getting attention, inspiring action, and driving change are fundamental roles of a nonprofit organization. Emotional connections make these happen. The more voices the better, yet employees and volunteers may not feel empowered to speak of their experiences and share their passion.

How Leader @ theCenter helps: Having many communicators in your organization captures more hearts and minds. Each brings a unique voice and experience to your message, making your appeal resonate. Multiply that by ten or twenty and you have opportunity where it did not exist before. Passionate voices lead to active volunteers, participants, and donors.

Retention. Your work is easier when turnover is low. Retention of employees, volunteers, and board members brings consistency and a strong base of support. Recruitment and training are expensive and time consuming, taking you away from your mission.

How Leaders @ the Center helps: Engagement is key to long term relationships. Creating an organization of communicators gives everyone the opportunity to engage. The feeling of belonging, being needed, and having a voice are empowering and rewarding. And they are reasons to stay.

Motivation from the start. Young, new employees bring energy to your organization. It is challenging to attract and retain them. A lack of opportunity to actively engage in the Vision causes many to turn away from the organization or nonprofits in general. They seek a position that allows them to grow, act, and share.

How Leader @ the Center helps: Giving a voice to these most enthusiastic, inspired employees and volunteers motivates and energizes your youngest, and often, most diverse workers. These may also be your most tech savvy employees, using tools to enhance the work and spread the message. The rewards are double: you keep them engaged and their voices attract a new base of support.

Demand for services. You are challenged to continually deliver an ever-expanding range of programs and services. These demands often come from funders. It becomes a Catch-22: you can’t have the money without the services and you can’t deliver the services without the money.

How Leader @ the Center helps: Your newly engaged and empowered employees, volunteers, and board members are energized and productive. Engaged employees are happy employees. They are multiplying your contacts and contributing more

Steady flow of money. The majority of nonprofits identify finding and maintaining reliable sources of funding as their greatest need. You are challenged to maintain existing funding sources while identifying new ones.

How Leaders @ the Center helps: Empowering everyone in your organization by giving them a voice multiplies your exposure while creating the momentum that produces results for you, your service recipients, and your funders. With an organization rich in resources, you are on a path to success.

Becoming a Leader @ the Center feels good! Creating more leaders is your opportunity to build momentum, reduce expenses, satisfy workers, increase productivity, and raise more money.

What can you do today to create more leaders in your organization?

Merle Benny

Merle Benny, Nonprofit  Champion.

Merle is the voice of Nonprofit Champions everywhere. She writes and speaks to inspire more nonprofit leaders in the community and world. She loves connections! Email merle@nonprofitchampion.com or follow Nonprofit Champion on Facebook or LinkedIn. 

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A Letter to Brittany

Dear Brittany:

Congratulations on your new job. Today is the beginning of an opportunity and a challenge for you.

The good news is there has never been a better time to work for a nonprofit.

You are so creative! I bet that showed in your interviews. You have ideas and experiences that will help the organization grow and prosper. They were smart enough to realize they needed you. Now, you get to lead them to a brighter future.

I know you don’t feel like a leader yet, but you should embrace that role. In fact, nonprofits need leaders at every level in the organization. The world is moving way too fast to expect one leader to make all the decisions.

When you define leadership as “critical and collaborative thinking and action given what you see in front of you,”1 you begin to see howleadership is for everyone. That includes you!

I’ve seen you in action and I know what you are capable of, now is your chance to shine.

Your fresh ideas, willingness to work hard, and optimism for the future are needed right now. You are on a journey of discovery. I’ve mapped out a path for you (yes, it is a book written just for you and other rising stars), to inspire and prepare you to move your dream for your new organization forward and to take others with you. I call this new role Leader at the Center.

You already know how important nonprofits are, yet, now more than ever, they are called on to do more with less. They need you!

It’s been a tough time. The sector faces big challenges including limited resources, lack of leadership, and the need for vocal advocates to drive change and progress. Add to that the great adjustments required to operate during the pandemic and a heightened call for the sector to lead the way in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

It’s not a simple task Brittany. It’s not all on you, but you have an important role to play in your organization and in your community.

Remember! These threats are also opportunities.

I’ve written the book because I’ve seen the exciting things that happen when you use your voice. I’ve also seen missed opportunities. And every missed chance can result in a loss of funds, the inability to serve a child in need, or saying no to the needy or disabled.

In your new position you will have the opportunity to use your voice to connect with individuals, businesses, government, and philanthropists to fulfill a vision for a better future.

I love having the chance to share this with you. You’ll quickly discover that it is a simple game plan with three vital steps: Communicate, Connect, and Convene. I know these will come naturally to you. Start where you are right now, today, on your first day in your new job.

Each step of the game plan is offered as an opportunity for you to gain a fresh perspective, use your skills, and enjoy the challenge. These every day practices will inspire and renew you as you attract the resources your organization needs to create a better community.

More than ever the sector needs fresh thinking, renewed energy, and an optimistic outlook. It needs you, Brittany. You are a rising Nonprofit Champion.

Sending best wishes and a big hug.

* Forbes, Should You Really Build Leaders At Every level of Your Organization?, DougSundheim, November 17, 2020.

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Are you boring or engaging?

When I gather with a group of nonprofit leaders and ask them to introduce themselves, I hear one person after another talk about the work they do. They use jargon, insider-speak, buzz words. They talk about the boss, a challenge they are facing, and find a variety of ways to describe their day-to-day work.

My reaction? Like everyone else, I’m confused and bored.

What would I like to hear?

I want to know your dream for a better world. I want to hear something I can understand and relate to. I want to hear your passion for the work, that’s contagious. Your introduction is the beginning of our relationship. Your words should make me curious; they should pique my interest.

Let’s explore how to do just that.

A Vision-focused approach

Keep in mind your goal: to get people to be curious and responsive. You’ll do that by starting with vision!

Vision is the big dream that inspires others. Your organization’s Vision is that big, bold dream of a better world. The simple statement gives you and everyone in your organization a clear view of the big picture. Examples like, Oxfam: A just world without poverty and Toronto Zoo A world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive, clearly communicate a dream.

A Vision statement for your organization has value:

  1. It is your guiding light, continually inspiring your work;
  2. It helps you and your organization set priorities and choose programs and services that are aligned with it;
  3. And, it acts as a safeguard and measurement, keeping everyone on track towards common goals.

Taking it a step further, your Vision Message, the personalization of your organization’s Vision:

  • Reflects your feelings and your personal motivation;
  • Is the start of a conversation, it works like a magnet to attract interest and curiosity;
  • Conversation leads to the connections you will need for ongoing, continued growth and development.

Your Vision Message is your own personal version of the Vision. It is how you express your purpose. It’s a short story about why you do what you do. It is emotional and engaging. It naturally appeals to listeners.

Your Vision Message is not a branding slogan. You do not have to look for clever wording or an advertising headline. You are looking for a few words to express the dream that makes your organization important to your community and to you personally.

Practice being engaging. Share your dream for a better world. I’d love to hear it!

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use your words.

Communication drives success.

Think about your heroes. What do they all have in common?

Throughout history our most respected and memorable heroes are great orators, or great writers, or both. Whether they are founders, philosophers, politicians, scientists, religion, artist, or business leaders, the most influential are also the best communicators.

Orators traditionally used the stage and print to get their message out.

Today, among your personal heroes may be a great conversationalist in your family, a singer/songwriter, a speaker with a motivational podcast, or an inspiring author. They have a voice and they use it to connect.

Great communication can make you famous (or at least popular).

Becoming a strong communicator gives you the power to influence people. It allows you to make connections. As a nonprofit leader, communication will win advocates, donors and volunteers. It will make you and your organization stronger and more influential.

Communication is so fundamental it is often overlooked as a key part of success. Yet, when you look at what nonprofits need to succeed, nothing is possible without communication. To fundraise or influence policy makers, or to recruit volunteers, you have to speak and write. To successfully serve clients or build a membership base, you must communicate.

Communication drives success.

Speak up! Use your voice.

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It’s not someone’s job, it’s everyone’s job.

Imagine how much more powerful your organization would be if you multiplied the number of people who felt prepared and empowered to talk about the organization’s vision! The more people spreading the word, the more donors, volunteers, and advocates you have. Simple math says it makes sense.

Why don’t organizations work this way now?

Change happens slowly. While you can see the innovative practices of start-ups and fast-growth businesses, nonprofits tend to be more traditional. The focus is not on the bottom line. You exist for the public good. That’s a responsibility and a promise. Innovation has not traditionally been part of the equation.

Now, more than ever, nonprofits are challenged to find and keep employees, to pay them fairly, to create succession plans for continuity, and to continually inspire and motivate everyone in your circle of influence, including employees, volunteers, boards, and service recipients. It’s a heavy lift.

Everyone in your organization has the heart and mind to be an ambassador. They have chosen to work and volunteer there because they care about the vision and mission. It’s time to empower yourself and others. In fact, it is becoming a necessity.

I’ll explore this topic in more detail next week. For now, think about how you, from wherever you are in the organization, can stand up, speak up, and lead the way forward.

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Step UP! You are a Leader

Not in a leadership role yet? No problem. I want to share with you the secret I discovered that changed my life.

When you have the opportunity to raise your hand and get involved, do it. I was frustrated in work and volunteer roles. I wanted action. I wanted change. Then I discovered how to make things happen.

Every leadership position I’ve had was because I was willing to take on a new task, help others out, give an opinion, or try something new. I went beyond my job description to make things better. No one complained because work was getting done. And when it came time for a promotion, I had already created the next role for myself.

Leadership is all about stepping and doing the job.

Leader at the Center

Nonprofit organizations need leaders. They need you. Becoming a leader from within the organization is rewarding. I call it Leader at the Center. It’s a role that needs to be filled now! Stepping up leads to opportunities, inside and outside your organization.

How do you become a Leader at the Center? Here are 3 steps:

1. Communicate – use your voice to share stories, including your own! Speaking about your dreams and the dream of your organization to create a better world will get you an audience, in person or on social media.

2. Connect – be the connector. Make sure you are meeting people and connecting them to resources, ideas, and other people. Your active connecting will come back to you with connections that will help you reach your dreams.

3. Convene – bring people together. See a problem? You can solve it by using your communication skills and connections to gather people and address the issue. Convening is the way you change dreams into goals.

You have exactly what it takes. Step up. Raise your hand. Start talking, make connections, and gather people together. You’re a Leader at the Center.

Merle Benny is a speaker, author, and trainer. She believes there are Nonprofit Champions at every level and role in an organization. Connect to Nonprofit Champion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.