“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 the basic element of your success. Think about your heroes. What do they all have in common? They talk, they tell stories, they get your attention through …
Tag Archives: future leader
Onboarding: An Action Plan
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 their self-esteem, teamwork, and …
Becoming a Nonprofit Champion
Juliette Low inspired Merle to become a Nonprofit Champion
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 …
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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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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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 …