I've had a week, no, ten days now sitting most of the day with my laptop in my, well, lap. I had surgery on January 4 (new hip) and am doing really well, thank you very much.
The reason I'm telling you that is that I've had LOTS of time to do two long delayed jobs: updating my website links and content, and starting a new book on nonprofit decision-making. The updating has allowed me to reflect and be yet again awed by how many thousands of resources are available online for nonprofits. To any of you under forty, this statement probably results in a "Yeah, so?" But to anyone over 50 who can still remember the 80's or early 90's, you are probably saying "Yeah!" because of how much improvement there has been.
And this spills over into the new book. When my first book, Mission-Based Management, was being researched in 1992-3, I did a quick (well, nothing was quick then) search on Compuserve (remember Compuserve?) for "nonprofit management" and found three (3), THREE titles, one of which was an early edition of Bruce Hopkins' terrific books on nonprofit law. There was nothing for nonprofit marketers (some stuff on fund-raising, but not on marketing) nothing on technology, nothing (NOTHING!) on nonprofit boards.
And to access the few books or papers that were there, anyone interested had to find a Foundation Center outpost at a regional or University library. If you didn't live in a town with one of these collections, you were screwed. Oh, these Foundation Center collections were also where you went if you wanted any information on the funding interests of a particular Foundation. Think how hard it had to be just to startup a nonprofit. Go google the search string "How do I start a nonprofit" and see what happens? I could darn near start a nonprofit from my house while recovering from surgery.
But back to books: If you go to Amazon.com right now and just look at the first page of results from a search for books in the area of "nonprofit management" you'll see twelve (of the 4,265 total hits) books that are ALL awesome. How wonderful for the sector.
My point is not how hard we old folks had it in the past. Rather, it's to celebrate how far we've come. If there are people who feel that nonprofits should be better managed (and trust me, that's a huge improvement in itself from 1985) and publishers who think that material will sell, it's because there's a demand for that message from board, staff and funders.
That said, with all this excellent information out there in print and online, we're confronted with the sad fact that there are still only 24 hours in the day. We can't just sit at our computers and read, or in our offices and read, or go to webinars, or look at HowCast videos. We have organizations to run.
We have all this amazing information at our fingertips that can improve our nonprofit's mission-capability and not enough time to use it all.
So what to do? My suggestion for nonprofit leaders is to set an example as a life-long learning and tell your staff that you expect them to do the same thing. Delegate the search for good ideas online and in print to all your staff (yes, all) and have regular discussions about what's been learned. You can have a book club, sure; they're great. But you can also have "website" clubs, or online magazine clubs, or .pdf article clubs, or webinar clubs where you all experience (read, listen, watch) the same thing and then discuss how to utilize what you've learned to the benefit of the people your organization serves.
Happy learning!
Showing posts with label nonprofit books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nonprofit books. Show all posts
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Nonprofit Culture--a decoding
Just got my copy of a great new book on nonprofit culture. It's called The Nonprofit Organizational Culture Guide: Revealing the Hidden Truths that Impact Performance, by Paige Hull Teegarden, Denise Rothman Hinden, and Paul Sturm.
This book has a ton of good usable information for your nonprofit. Check it out!
This book has a ton of good usable information for your nonprofit. Check it out!
Saturday, March 06, 2010
A deal for book lovers....
I just learned that Fieldstone Alliance is having a winter book sale. 30% off all titles, and since all of those titles are focused on nonprofits, it's something you should take a look at.
Go here to learn the details.
Truth in advertising...I have two Fieldstone titles: Nonprofit Stewardship: A Better Way to Lead Your Mission-Based Organization, and Generations: The Challenge of A Lifetime for Your Nonprofit.
That said, there are dozens of great books for sale. Check it out.
Go here to learn the details.
Truth in advertising...I have two Fieldstone titles: Nonprofit Stewardship: A Better Way to Lead Your Mission-Based Organization, and Generations: The Challenge of A Lifetime for Your Nonprofit.
That said, there are dozens of great books for sale. Check it out.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A book in the hand....
My new book arrived from my publisher, Fieldstone Alliance, yesterday.
I rarely look at my books after they show up. People ask me what it feels like to read my own book, and I tell them..."I rarely read them in the first year or two. I might go back for a reference quote, but not often". They are astonished...and of course, what they don't realize is that by the time the book shows up, I have not only written it, but read the thing four or five times in the proofing, editing, etc stages. Frankly, I'm sick of it.
Not this book, though.
I immediately dove into it to see whether, having finished writing it 10 months ago, I still felt good about it. Why? Because the area of Generation Change is so, so dynamic and on everyone's list of big issues. I'm going to be speaking on this issue all over the place the remainder of this year, and am working with a foundation to assess generational readiness in their community. I've had inquiries from overseas, and everyone I've talked to about generation change is interested/worried/concerned/a bit freaked about the subject.
Should be fun to see what happens. If you're interested in looking at the book in more depth, there's a link on the right.
I rarely look at my books after they show up. People ask me what it feels like to read my own book, and I tell them..."I rarely read them in the first year or two. I might go back for a reference quote, but not often". They are astonished...and of course, what they don't realize is that by the time the book shows up, I have not only written it, but read the thing four or five times in the proofing, editing, etc stages. Frankly, I'm sick of it.
Not this book, though.
I immediately dove into it to see whether, having finished writing it 10 months ago, I still felt good about it. Why? Because the area of Generation Change is so, so dynamic and on everyone's list of big issues. I'm going to be speaking on this issue all over the place the remainder of this year, and am working with a foundation to assess generational readiness in their community. I've had inquiries from overseas, and everyone I've talked to about generation change is interested/worried/concerned/a bit freaked about the subject.
Should be fun to see what happens. If you're interested in looking at the book in more depth, there's a link on the right.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Why "Who Really Cares" matters
In a post two weeks ago, I told you my preliminary thoughts about Who Really Cares, by Arthur C Brooks. I finished the book shortly afterwards, but wanted to take a couple of weeks to let it sink in before sounding off about it again. Here are my thoughts, about why it is a terribly important book for our sector, one that needs to make it to the top of your reading list, and quickly.
First, Brooks is an economist. He focuses on the data, and I don't believe he has a political agenda. (Whoever designed his cover seems to, but, as an author myself, I can assure you that's not Brooks' fault.)
I spent some considerable time with the date (that makes up perhaps the last 15-20% of the book) and felt comfortable that Brooks was telling it like it is, not the spun version. I might have chosen a different term here or there, but in the main, the tale he tells is told fairly.
Second, the tale he tells is really, really interesting, and a bit counterintuitive to our pre-conceived notions about people's generosity or lack thereof.
Not to steal the thunder from the book, Brooks data shows that people are more likely to give (time, money, blood, etc.) if they are from a strong family, go to religious services regularly at some point in their life, earn their own money, and don't think that government has all the answers. Now, combine least two of those characteristics (religious attendance and scepticism about government) and you get a rough description of a conservative. At least a trend to the right. Huh. Aren't liberals more generous? Wouldn't that be your first thought?
Brooks shows (and I did go into the data for a long, long time) that the opposite is true. He does not say that liberals are selfish or the modern incarnation of Scrooge, but that in the main, conservatives give significantly more; more time, more treasure, more of everything, to charities than liberals do.
As a social liberal, this bothers me no end. And I've been thinking about the implications to our sector. The fund raising outcomes are obvious: go where the people are who are committed to your cause, but then beyond that trend in targeting to people who fit into Brooks' major catagories. Same for volunteers.
But what about our employees? We need charitable employees. Brooks argues that parenting is a charitable act (and is in itself a predicator of later generosity). I would say the same about choosing to work in a nonprofit. You are sacrificing income (without question) to do something that needs doing, something you are hopefully passionate about.
We're in the middle of a huge turnover in employees in our sector. Perhaps Brooks is on to a way to target our HR staffs as they look for better odds in the hiring game. You gotta go where the data show you, and here the data is pretty impressive.
Anyway, read the book, and then post a comment.
First, Brooks is an economist. He focuses on the data, and I don't believe he has a political agenda. (Whoever designed his cover seems to, but, as an author myself, I can assure you that's not Brooks' fault.)
I spent some considerable time with the date (that makes up perhaps the last 15-20% of the book) and felt comfortable that Brooks was telling it like it is, not the spun version. I might have chosen a different term here or there, but in the main, the tale he tells is told fairly.
Second, the tale he tells is really, really interesting, and a bit counterintuitive to our pre-conceived notions about people's generosity or lack thereof.
Not to steal the thunder from the book, Brooks data shows that people are more likely to give (time, money, blood, etc.) if they are from a strong family, go to religious services regularly at some point in their life, earn their own money, and don't think that government has all the answers. Now, combine least two of those characteristics (religious attendance and scepticism about government) and you get a rough description of a conservative. At least a trend to the right. Huh. Aren't liberals more generous? Wouldn't that be your first thought?
Brooks shows (and I did go into the data for a long, long time) that the opposite is true. He does not say that liberals are selfish or the modern incarnation of Scrooge, but that in the main, conservatives give significantly more; more time, more treasure, more of everything, to charities than liberals do.
As a social liberal, this bothers me no end. And I've been thinking about the implications to our sector. The fund raising outcomes are obvious: go where the people are who are committed to your cause, but then beyond that trend in targeting to people who fit into Brooks' major catagories. Same for volunteers.
But what about our employees? We need charitable employees. Brooks argues that parenting is a charitable act (and is in itself a predicator of later generosity). I would say the same about choosing to work in a nonprofit. You are sacrificing income (without question) to do something that needs doing, something you are hopefully passionate about.
We're in the middle of a huge turnover in employees in our sector. Perhaps Brooks is on to a way to target our HR staffs as they look for better odds in the hiring game. You gotta go where the data show you, and here the data is pretty impressive.
Anyway, read the book, and then post a comment.
Monday, February 26, 2007
In between...
Home Friday, gone today....a good weekend. Got to make a significant donation to a local nonprofit over the weekend: a family chair that George Washington sat in when he visited one of my ancestors who fought with him in the Revolution...really.
Today, I'm off to San Francisco, to do book club calls tomorrow, and then a major presentation to what should be a very, very interesting group. The Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative(TM) has a Leadership Program that is intended to develop leaders in the best nonprofits in the country. Nonprofits compete for slots, and there are two training programs for each agency...one for emerging leaders one for CEO types. So, the leaders get to spend time with others like them and turbocharge their leadership skills. Great idea.
I'm fortunate to have been asked to speak to both groups on Nonprofit Stewardship. This week, it's the emerging leaders, and in April, I'll talk to the CEO/ED's. Lots of discussion, lots of interaction, etc. Should be fun and, I'm sure, more than a bit inspiring.
I'll let you know.....
Today, I'm off to San Francisco, to do book club calls tomorrow, and then a major presentation to what should be a very, very interesting group. The Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative(TM) has a Leadership Program that is intended to develop leaders in the best nonprofits in the country. Nonprofits compete for slots, and there are two training programs for each agency...one for emerging leaders one for CEO types. So, the leaders get to spend time with others like them and turbocharge their leadership skills. Great idea.
I'm fortunate to have been asked to speak to both groups on Nonprofit Stewardship. This week, it's the emerging leaders, and in April, I'll talk to the CEO/ED's. Lots of discussion, lots of interaction, etc. Should be fun and, I'm sure, more than a bit inspiring.
I'll let you know.....
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Be Graphic
A nice toolkit for nonprofit graphic design showed up in this week's By the Cup from Techsoup. I would definitely give it a look, particularly if you are in the process of re-working your website or other marketing materials.
I'm back on the road after a three week break. Today to Orlando to give a two day class on business development (there's a podcast on that subject here) for nonprofits and then next week in San Francisco to talk to a large group of award winning staff on Nonprofit Stewardship.
United Airlines is always glad to see me.....it's nice to be loved.
I'm back on the road after a three week break. Today to Orlando to give a two day class on business development (there's a podcast on that subject here) for nonprofits and then next week in San Francisco to talk to a large group of award winning staff on Nonprofit Stewardship.
United Airlines is always glad to see me.....it's nice to be loved.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Who really cares?
I posted earlier about this book, and it took a long time to get to the top of my pile, but now that it has, I'm totally intrigued.
Who Really Cares? America's Charity Divide: Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters, by economist Arthur Brooks has really turned my head a bit. At this point, I'm about half-way through the text and then want to dive into the data, which makes up about a third of the book. Brooks makes some very, very interesting points, and so far at least, hasn't been strident or what I would consider too misleading about his data.
It's worth picking up, since I would imagine for most readers it challenges their pre-existing notions of who gives more: liberal or conservative, secular or religious, etc. I'll be interested to see if Brooks comes up with some solutions for the divide, or is just making a statistical case.
More on this in future posts.
Who Really Cares? America's Charity Divide: Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters, by economist Arthur Brooks has really turned my head a bit. At this point, I'm about half-way through the text and then want to dive into the data, which makes up about a third of the book. Brooks makes some very, very interesting points, and so far at least, hasn't been strident or what I would consider too misleading about his data.
It's worth picking up, since I would imagine for most readers it challenges their pre-existing notions of who gives more: liberal or conservative, secular or religious, etc. I'll be interested to see if Brooks comes up with some solutions for the divide, or is just making a statistical case.
More on this in future posts.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Generation change and...
My current newsletter is out, and the topic is Generation Change and Your Staff.
This is the first in a number of issues this year that will deal with Generation Change in different contexts. I'll look at: Generation Change and the People You Serve (May), Generation Change and Technology (September), and Generation Change and Marketing (November).
All of this is because the huge issue of generation change is on my mind for good reason: My newest book is coming out in about a month. It's called Generations: The Challenge of A Lifetime for Your Nonprofit, and will be published by Fieldstone Alliance. You can see more about the book at pre-order if you are interested at the Fieldstone site.
When I talk to a room full of CEO's and board members and mention generation change, all the heads nod. They all know this is an issue, but my experience is that they see it through one lens, not the huge gumbo of competing stresses, changes and opportunities that the changing of the generations offers. For example, lots of the audience will be thinking: "Oh, he means Executive Transition." Others will be thinking "Yeah, I'm having so much conflict with my 20-something staff." And still others will be considering generation change as a fund-raising opportunity.
You know, the old story about the blind men and the elephant.
And, truth be told, I thought the issue was pretty simple until about five years ago, when people began to come up to me at training sessions and say: "I love what you say about our nonprofit being a mission-based business. I came to this organization two years ago after 25 years at GE (or in the military) and I love what we do, but I still can't talk to these people!"
Then, someone else would come up and talk to me about inter-generational conflict, or how old their board was, or how "all our volunteers are dying off", and my warning sensors began to go off.
A few months later I was speaking at a convention of CFO's and one of the workshops was on paying for retirement for Boomer managers. Ahh, crap. There's a financial side to this, too. That did it.
I dove into the subject and started reading and studying, and right after Nonprofit Stewardship came out in 2004, I started working on my editor, explaining that generation change would be a really, really important topic, and we needed to get going. He agreed, but wanted to wait for a while. I was not happy, but it turns out he was completely right.
I don't think our timing could be better. There is a regular "Boomer Files" section of Newsweek, discussion of boomer retirement on CNN, articles on generational conflict in the workplace (I found 12 titles on the subject on Amazon when I started my research, I'm sure there are more now. This issue has gotten on to the radar of foundations, United Ways, and university nonprofit programs.
I hope the book is a help to the sector. We'll see
This is the first in a number of issues this year that will deal with Generation Change in different contexts. I'll look at: Generation Change and the People You Serve (May), Generation Change and Technology (September), and Generation Change and Marketing (November).
All of this is because the huge issue of generation change is on my mind for good reason: My newest book is coming out in about a month. It's called Generations: The Challenge of A Lifetime for Your Nonprofit, and will be published by Fieldstone Alliance. You can see more about the book at pre-order if you are interested at the Fieldstone site.
When I talk to a room full of CEO's and board members and mention generation change, all the heads nod. They all know this is an issue, but my experience is that they see it through one lens, not the huge gumbo of competing stresses, changes and opportunities that the changing of the generations offers. For example, lots of the audience will be thinking: "Oh, he means Executive Transition." Others will be thinking "Yeah, I'm having so much conflict with my 20-something staff." And still others will be considering generation change as a fund-raising opportunity.
You know, the old story about the blind men and the elephant.
And, truth be told, I thought the issue was pretty simple until about five years ago, when people began to come up to me at training sessions and say: "I love what you say about our nonprofit being a mission-based business. I came to this organization two years ago after 25 years at GE (or in the military) and I love what we do, but I still can't talk to these people!"
Then, someone else would come up and talk to me about inter-generational conflict, or how old their board was, or how "all our volunteers are dying off", and my warning sensors began to go off.
A few months later I was speaking at a convention of CFO's and one of the workshops was on paying for retirement for Boomer managers. Ahh, crap. There's a financial side to this, too. That did it.
I dove into the subject and started reading and studying, and right after Nonprofit Stewardship came out in 2004, I started working on my editor, explaining that generation change would be a really, really important topic, and we needed to get going. He agreed, but wanted to wait for a while. I was not happy, but it turns out he was completely right.
I don't think our timing could be better. There is a regular "Boomer Files" section of Newsweek, discussion of boomer retirement on CNN, articles on generational conflict in the workplace (I found 12 titles on the subject on Amazon when I started my research, I'm sure there are more now. This issue has gotten on to the radar of foundations, United Ways, and university nonprofit programs.
I hope the book is a help to the sector. We'll see
Friday, February 02, 2007
Pre-book buzz...
With my new book on generation change coming out next month, I've been speaking on the subject and have been asked about best practices in the area. Interestingly, there really aren't a lot.
My consulting on this issue has led me to develop some metrics of my own about retirement plans, benefits, board and staff age diversity, websites, marketing materials, technology use, planning, etc., etc., etc.
Really, everything on the manager's plate now needs to be viewed generationally, and my problem as a consultant has been to view it ONLY that way, and not get into the my other 25 years of experience....and add things on and on and on to my recommendations that have to do with general good management and stewardship practices rather than just limit myself to just the generation specific stuff. Yet, if I see a problem and don't bring it up, I feel like I'm committing malpractice....hmmm.
I'm also pretty excited about the reaction to the book so far. A TON of pre-publication orders are in...more than with my other books by far. And everyone seems to get this issue.
Funny, too. I've been perseverating over the cover. Fieldstone has been nice enough to let me have significant input into the decision making process, as they did for the paper marketing piece. Today a friend pointed out that in the book I say this....
My consulting on this issue has led me to develop some metrics of my own about retirement plans, benefits, board and staff age diversity, websites, marketing materials, technology use, planning, etc., etc., etc.
Really, everything on the manager's plate now needs to be viewed generationally, and my problem as a consultant has been to view it ONLY that way, and not get into the my other 25 years of experience....and add things on and on and on to my recommendations that have to do with general good management and stewardship practices rather than just limit myself to just the generation specific stuff. Yet, if I see a problem and don't bring it up, I feel like I'm committing malpractice....hmmm.
I'm also pretty excited about the reaction to the book so far. A TON of pre-publication orders are in...more than with my other books by far. And everyone seems to get this issue.
Funny, too. I've been perseverating over the cover. Fieldstone has been nice enough to let me have significant input into the decision making process, as they did for the paper marketing piece. Today a friend pointed out that in the book I say this....
"What about that expensive brochure you just wasted your money on-because the teens you need to reach are too busy with MySpace and text-messaging to read your glossy money pit?"
My response was that the paper marketing piece is for boomer execs who still control all the money!
And, two different people told me today that they are giving speeches on generational issues.
Seems this is on everyone's mind.
As it should be. It's a huge, huge issue for the sector.
My response was that the paper marketing piece is for boomer execs who still control all the money!
And, two different people told me today that they are giving speeches on generational issues.
Seems this is on everyone's mind.
As it should be. It's a huge, huge issue for the sector.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Interim whoas
I get a call every 18 months or so looking for someone who could fill in as an interim exec. Once or twice I've been able to give the caller a suggestion, and sometimes, (I know in total desperation) they ask me to do the job. I always say, "No, no NO....thank you".
This week, I had three such calls.
This is yet another indicator of the change going on in the sector. Not only have we established that most current execs NEVER want another exec job, but also that most senior managers in the sector are at or near retirement. Thus, the math is pretty simple: More job openings plus fewer candidates equals a greater need for interim execs when searches fail to be successful before the current leader departs.
I've always thought that being an interim exec would be a horrible job, although I know two ministers who I greatly respect who have done only that for about 15 years each... and they love the work. Good for them.
Of course the irony of going after a "titular" interim ED is this: usually, after a long term ED leaves, the next person is only there for a few years anyway, and thus is really a de-facto interim exec, followed by another long termer. I've seen this a dozen times.
Well, the generation change is coming...oops, its here.
Two resources, one that I'll flog shamelessly here for the next few weeks:
My new book Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Nonprofits, is coming out March 15. You can read more about the book at the publisher: Fieldstone Alliance, by clicking on the link.
And, another resource on interim directors is a great article from Bridgespan on utilizing interim directors and how it benefits the organization. Here's a news article on the Bridgespan piece, with links to the original article. And, if you do go to Bridgespan...join as a free member, and get their regular newlsetter, Leadership Matters. Good stuff.
This week, I had three such calls.
This is yet another indicator of the change going on in the sector. Not only have we established that most current execs NEVER want another exec job, but also that most senior managers in the sector are at or near retirement. Thus, the math is pretty simple: More job openings plus fewer candidates equals a greater need for interim execs when searches fail to be successful before the current leader departs.
I've always thought that being an interim exec would be a horrible job, although I know two ministers who I greatly respect who have done only that for about 15 years each... and they love the work. Good for them.
Of course the irony of going after a "titular" interim ED is this: usually, after a long term ED leaves, the next person is only there for a few years anyway, and thus is really a de-facto interim exec, followed by another long termer. I've seen this a dozen times.
Well, the generation change is coming...oops, its here.
Two resources, one that I'll flog shamelessly here for the next few weeks:
My new book Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Nonprofits, is coming out March 15. You can read more about the book at the publisher: Fieldstone Alliance, by clicking on the link.
And, another resource on interim directors is a great article from Bridgespan on utilizing interim directors and how it benefits the organization. Here's a news article on the Bridgespan piece, with links to the original article. And, if you do go to Bridgespan...join as a free member, and get their regular newlsetter, Leadership Matters. Good stuff.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Great nonprofit website improvements
I've been doing New Year's cleaning and adding on my website, and in doing my checks, found significant improvements to two superb nonprofit resources. Check them out.
www.boardbuilders.com Carol Weisman has a new look, new resources, and great content. If you have a board, you need to know about this site.
www.managementhelp.org Carter McNamara has reformatted his incredible site, with easier search, and a more usable indexing system. This is one of the most useful resources on the web.
www.boardbuilders.com Carol Weisman has a new look, new resources, and great content. If you have a board, you need to know about this site.
www.managementhelp.org Carter McNamara has reformatted his incredible site, with easier search, and a more usable indexing system. This is one of the most useful resources on the web.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Past Mission-Based Management Newsletter topics
A friend recently asked me how he could view past issues of my monthly online newsletter for nonprofits. I told him that all the past issues (at least the three years worth when I have been dealing with a single issue each month) were listed at the bottom of each issue. "But what if I don't scroll down that far? Why don't you put them on your blog once in a while?" he asked.
If you don't get my newsletter, FYI, each month's topic is covered from a management, marketing and tech perspective, and I include recommendations on both books and links on the issue. Check out one of the issues below, and if you want to subscribe, you can just email me at subscribe@missionbased.com. It's free, and I will never, ever, ever share, sell, rent or in any other way hand out your email address. You can suggest a topic for future issues, too!
Here are the past issue subjects for 2004-2006.
2004
Jan Business Development
Feb Fund Raising
Mar Volunteers
Apr Financial Management
May On-line Marketing
June Transparency
July Nonprofit Start-up
Aug Governance
Sept Political Activities
Oct Getting Younger Staff, Volunteers & Board
Nov Outcome Measurement
Dec Lifelong Learning
2005
Jan Strategic Planning
Feb Leadership
Mar Core Competencies
Apr Expanding to New Markets
May Endowments
June Tech and Mission
July Sustainability
Aug Ethical Benefits
Sept Entrepreneurship
Oct Internal Communications
Nov Board Recruitment
Dec Better Budgeting
2006
Jan Generation Change
Feb Accountability
Mar Ethics and Management
Apr Staff Satisfaction
May When Boards Cross the Policy Management Line
June Staff Rewards
July Saying No to Community Need
Aug Board and Non-CEO Relations
Sept Executive Transition
Oct Advocacy
Nov When Boards Fail
Dec Conflict of Interest
Lots of stuff. Be kind when you read the technology posts from 2004---they MAY be a bit outdated!
If you don't get my newsletter, FYI, each month's topic is covered from a management, marketing and tech perspective, and I include recommendations on both books and links on the issue. Check out one of the issues below, and if you want to subscribe, you can just email me at subscribe@missionbased.com. It's free, and I will never, ever, ever share, sell, rent or in any other way hand out your email address. You can suggest a topic for future issues, too!
Here are the past issue subjects for 2004-2006.
2004
Jan Business Development
Feb Fund Raising
Mar Volunteers
Apr Financial Management
May On-line Marketing
June Transparency
July Nonprofit Start-up
Aug Governance
Sept Political Activities
Oct Getting Younger Staff, Volunteers & Board
Nov Outcome Measurement
Dec Lifelong Learning
2005
Jan Strategic Planning
Feb Leadership
Mar Core Competencies
Apr Expanding to New Markets
May Endowments
June Tech and Mission
July Sustainability
Aug Ethical Benefits
Sept Entrepreneurship
Oct Internal Communications
Nov Board Recruitment
Dec Better Budgeting
2006
Jan Generation Change
Feb Accountability
Mar Ethics and Management
Apr Staff Satisfaction
May When Boards Cross the Policy Management Line
June Staff Rewards
July Saying No to Community Need
Aug Board and Non-CEO Relations
Sept Executive Transition
Oct Advocacy
Nov When Boards Fail
Dec Conflict of Interest
Lots of stuff. Be kind when you read the technology posts from 2004---they MAY be a bit outdated!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Leadership Reading
As regular readers know, I've had the privilege since 2004 of facilitating a number of leadership book clubs, including sets for senior leaders and ones for "emerging" or middle management leaders.
I've updated my website with a list of the best books from these groups. If you are looking to get in some great reading that will improve your organization, check out the list.
http://www.missionbased.com/recommendedleadership.htm is where you can see them, as well as my recommendation for readings on management, marketing, boards, fund-raising, etc.
I've updated my website with a list of the best books from these groups. If you are looking to get in some great reading that will improve your organization, check out the list.
http://www.missionbased.com/recommendedleadership.htm is where you can see them, as well as my recommendation for readings on management, marketing, boards, fund-raising, etc.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Who gives a.....?
Again, I'm amazed by how long its been since I posted. Busy, busy with family, holidays, and even some work.
I'm really intrigued by a new book that I ordered over the weekend entitled "Who Really Cares: America's Charity Divide....Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters", by economist Arthur C. Brooks.
I saw Brooks on C-Span over the holidays, and his brief discussion of his research and findings was really, really interesting. As with all data and interpretation, I want to see the book and see if there are underlying prejudices or errors, but if his data backs up his oral assertions on TV, the work is groundbreaking and very, very important.
I'll post more on this when the books comes and I work my way through it.
In other news--and forewarning future posts, my newest book comes out in March, and I'm really excited about the reviews and feedback. The book is called Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Your Nonprofit, and it deals with the myriad of issues around the retirement of the boomers, the rise of the next two generations, and implications for service, marketing, staff and board recruitment, technology, and finance.
More on it in a few weeks.
Tech---with Microsoft Vista (finally) coming out, I am reminded of the availability of good open source software that rivals if not exceeds the stuff MS sells. I've used Firefox for a browser, Thunderbird for email, and NvU for HTML work for years, and love them. Regular readers have seen my suggestions on this for some time.
If you are thinking about specific office software, take a look at the very good TechSoup article on OpenOffice versus Microsoft Office. Worth the read.
I'm really intrigued by a new book that I ordered over the weekend entitled "Who Really Cares: America's Charity Divide....Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters", by economist Arthur C. Brooks.
I saw Brooks on C-Span over the holidays, and his brief discussion of his research and findings was really, really interesting. As with all data and interpretation, I want to see the book and see if there are underlying prejudices or errors, but if his data backs up his oral assertions on TV, the work is groundbreaking and very, very important.
I'll post more on this when the books comes and I work my way through it.
In other news--and forewarning future posts, my newest book comes out in March, and I'm really excited about the reviews and feedback. The book is called Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Your Nonprofit, and it deals with the myriad of issues around the retirement of the boomers, the rise of the next two generations, and implications for service, marketing, staff and board recruitment, technology, and finance.
More on it in a few weeks.
Tech---with Microsoft Vista (finally) coming out, I am reminded of the availability of good open source software that rivals if not exceeds the stuff MS sells. I've used Firefox for a browser, Thunderbird for email, and NvU for HTML work for years, and love them. Regular readers have seen my suggestions on this for some time.
If you are thinking about specific office software, take a look at the very good TechSoup article on OpenOffice versus Microsoft Office. Worth the read.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thankful and full
Back on the road today (after a terrific Thanksgiving visit with two of my three kids) for my last Kellogg class of the year (sniff!). Talking tonight on performance measurement, sharing the lecture time with Janet Froescher of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, who is doing amazing things and, in my view, re-inventing the UW business/effectiveness model.
Then, I'm off to Connecticut to do three sessions for the annual conference of the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits in Hartford. Some on generation change, some on leadership and decision making.
Over the break, in addition to being thankful, I worked on my full day presentation on my new book (tentatively) titled Generations: The Challenge of A Lifetime for Nonprofits. It's due out in early March. I'll post about the book in more detail as the publication date gets closer.
And, four more pod casts go up online this week. More about that tomorrow or the next day.
Then, I'm off to Connecticut to do three sessions for the annual conference of the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits in Hartford. Some on generation change, some on leadership and decision making.
Over the break, in addition to being thankful, I worked on my full day presentation on my new book (tentatively) titled Generations: The Challenge of A Lifetime for Nonprofits. It's due out in early March. I'll post about the book in more detail as the publication date gets closer.
And, four more pod casts go up online this week. More about that tomorrow or the next day.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Reading Suggestions
Been reading a lot this summer. With my book clubs on hold, I've had time to read other stuff I had piled up.
Three Recommendations for the curious nonprofit mind:
First, The Wisdom of Crowds, by James Surowiecki. Really interesting in general, this has great application to organizations. I've been telling people for years to involve their entire staff more in discussion, debate and decision. I feel so validated! My better self-image aside, this is a good read.
Second, The Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell. The author also wrote "Blink" and I like his writing style. This book will make you think more about small improvements and asking people what they want...it could make all the difference.
Third, The Long Tail, by Chris Anderson. Brand new, this book made my head spin with its implications for the world around us. For most of us, the nonprofit business applications are minimal, but the concepts presented me with a new way of thinking about the economy and the society our nonprofits work in. The author is the editor at Wired, my favorite magazine, and he had an ariticle in the mag a couple of years ago. My son Ben (the Microsoft guy) and I read it on vacation in New Hampshire, and stayed up til 3 one night talking about the implications.
Enjoy your reading, and if you have a book that you like and would recommend, post a comment....
Three Recommendations for the curious nonprofit mind:
First, The Wisdom of Crowds, by James Surowiecki. Really interesting in general, this has great application to organizations. I've been telling people for years to involve their entire staff more in discussion, debate and decision. I feel so validated! My better self-image aside, this is a good read.
Second, The Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell. The author also wrote "Blink" and I like his writing style. This book will make you think more about small improvements and asking people what they want...it could make all the difference.
Third, The Long Tail, by Chris Anderson. Brand new, this book made my head spin with its implications for the world around us. For most of us, the nonprofit business applications are minimal, but the concepts presented me with a new way of thinking about the economy and the society our nonprofits work in. The author is the editor at Wired, my favorite magazine, and he had an ariticle in the mag a couple of years ago. My son Ben (the Microsoft guy) and I read it on vacation in New Hampshire, and stayed up til 3 one night talking about the implications.
Enjoy your reading, and if you have a book that you like and would recommend, post a comment....
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