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Volume
9, Issue 5 - September 2007 |
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"I
love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun
and filled with helpful hints"
Toni Paglia,
Director of Development, The ARC
Syracuse, New York |
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Are You a High Trust Organization? |
Introductory
Note:
Much emphasis has been placed recently on high performance in our nonprofit organizations. I recently learned about a company that has programs designed to help our employees go from ‘almost’ to ‘greatness.’ This lead article is contributed by Peak Life Habits.
What Does Your Organization Look Like?
Is it a high trust organization, known for internal
accountability, and vigorous communication? If it is, congratulations! That
is a great accomplishment.
Or is it an organization with any of the following: low trust, little
communication, hidden agendas, silos, artificial harmony, or lower than
desired productivity? If it is, that can be remedied.
An organization with a high degree of trust, teamwork and great, vigorous
communication, is simply more productive. Employees are more satisfied, and
the energy in the office is palpably higher. Accountability is high also.
Team members hold each other accountable to commitments made to important
tasks. Communication is clear, concise, and reliable. Not surprisingly,
employees have more fun, retention is higher, churn lower, and recruitment
is easier. Productivity soars!
On the other hand, an organization with
low trust creates low results. Resentment, hidden agendas, gossip, and
everything but a commitment to the overall mission and goal may
permeate the culture. Productivity suffers. These organizations experience
stress, anxiety, missed goals, and an HR department (or executive director)
working overtime.
How Do You transform to a High Trust Organization?
How do you develop high trust and productivity? Here is an
example of how our company helps develop High Trust Organizations.
We start with a vigorous examination of participant’s selves, their habits,
and their communication skills. We focus on the personal and organizational
areas that propel people beyond almost to Greatness. The results of these
engaging exercises are palpable. Top and bottom line growth, increased
retention, personal and organizational breakthroughs and lasting takeaways
make a fundamental difference in an organization’s present, and future.
Shift happens.
Limiting Habits
Do you have any Limiting Habits? We ask participants to take a
look at a list of Limiting Habits that we have identified. Two examples are:
- Seeing What’s Wrong Habit.
Do you see what is not right, before what is
right?
- It’s All About Me Habit.
Is it? Do your co-workers feel the same way? How does this affect the
team?
Can you think of more Limiting Habits that may be holding you back? There
are many. We all have them. Can they be replaced with Peak Life Habits?
These are habits that push you beyond where you are to where you intend to
go.
Peak Life Habits. Some examples are:
- Focus and Clarity Habit.
How important would it be to you and your organization to stay on task
and have a clear idea of what needs to be done, and when?
- Playing Big Habit. Why
not play to win all the time? We only have today, so let’s not waste it
and put our energies into Playing Big! Big Results come from Playing
Big!
Back to Table of
Contents
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Put Peak Life Habits to Work for You!
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As
you and your employees at all levels work through these types of exercises
and engage in discussions on this topic and many more, each employee will
have a specific idea of what steps to take individually and as they fit in
the organization, to build that trust, accountability, and the commitment to
vigorous, clear, communication.
The results are powerful.
PS from Jean Block: Just think what this type of training and thinking can
do to unite and motivate your Board of Directors and enhance your
Board/staff relationships!
“I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for sharing your time
and insights with our management team. Everyone came away with new insights
into how we can be more organized and why we do things the way we do.”
-Dennis P. Maquire, General Manager, Cricket Communications
Peak Life Habits specializes in helping organizations and management teams
become compassionate leaders, great communicators, personally accountable,
trustworthy, and much more productive. Services include hands on interactive
workshops, Greatness in Communication keynotes, and Greatness Coaching
Programs. To learn more about Peak Life Habits, visit
www.peaklifehabits.com, contact
them directly at 800.215.0911; or email them at
.
Back to Table of
Contents
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Tips from “The ABCs of Building Better Boards”
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While we are discussing ways to enhance performance at all levels of your
organization, it seems a good opportunity to select some tips for exceptional
Board performance from my book, “The ABCs of Building
Better Boards.”
Tip #1. Recruit
Effectively. As Jim Collins says in his book “Good to Great”
it is critical to get the right people “on the bus.” Don’t settle for anyone
whose breath merely fogs the mirror. Your mission is too important to accept
less that the best! Don’t rely on people who are merely friends of current Board
members. Appoint a Nominating Committee
chaired by a past president or president-elect.
- Include committee members at-large from the community or membership to
extend your reach.
- Create a matrix of what Skills you
need to carry out your mission effectively.
- Build a list of Who brings those
skills.
- Plan ahead...start 12 months ahead of When
you need the skills.
- Invite prospective Board members to sit on standing committees to judge
their appropriateness.
- Recruit for some of the Three Ts:
Time, Talent and Treasure.
Tip #2. Orient and Train. Not only is in
unfair to new Board members to expect them to figure things out as they go
along, it is unfair to your mission not to take advantage of all they have to
offer immediately. Create a formal New Member
Orientation program. Include organizational history, fiscal
management and budgeting, fiduciary responsibilities, share the strategic plan,
committee assignments, and more. Give new Board members a story to tell...have a
presentation from someone or something that has improved as a result of your
work.
Tip #3. Deal Effectively with Unproductive
Board Members. Nothing burns out a whole Board like one smoking
member! Keep performance standards high...refer to your mission and purpose at
every Board meeting. Print the mission on the Board agenda.
- Use job descriptions when you
recruit and train Board members so they have a clear understanding of your
expectations.
- Use annual commitment letters that
permit each Board member to review their Board job.
- Life gets in the way of volunteerism at times. Allow Board members to
resign with dignity and respect when they can’t commit the time required.
Tip #4. Respect the Three Ts. Hold effective and efficient Board
meetings. Stick to the agenda. Start and end on time. Use basic
parliamentary procedure to move the business along. Keep good minutes.
Prepare simple financial reports. Send pertinent materials for review in
advance of the meeting. Don’t rehash committee work at the full Board level!
Review the strategic plan and progress on the annual Plan of Work.
Visit
my web site ((www.jblockinc.com) to download a
sample job description,
commitment letter,
conflict of interest statement
and more.
Back to Table of
Contents
In
the last issue, I included a list of my favorite web sites for
nonprofits. Unfortunately, I failed to include one of the most important
web sites: www.guidestar.org!
And so, with abject apologies to GuideStar and Dan Moore, my friend
and GuideStar’s VP for Public Affairs, I devote this entire section to
them.
Duh - how could I have made such a blunder?
I hope that each of you are filing a timely and accurate Form 990 and
that you have visited www.guidestar.org to review your information as it
is posted. Remember that there are changes in who is required to file a
990 and be sure your financial consultant or employee is current with
the changes. Check out the new requirements at
www.irs.gov.
GuideStar has become an important tool for your organization’s public
relations efforts.
Back to Table of
Contentss
Now you can add two great books to your agency library.
The ABCs of Building Better Boards is just what you need to
improve your Board’s potential. It includes ideas for recruitment, retention and
recognition and has some great forms for you to copy and use.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals says of this book:
“Here is a book that every senior fundraiser
responsible for board recruitment and development should read once and then
review annually...takes up where books full of theory fall short...give it a
chance and you will discover a gem to be treasured.”
Learn how to deal with unproductive Board members and how to better define the
roles of staff and Board. There is a chapter on financial and fiduciary facts,
one on simple parliamentary procedure and much much more.
Discover how Board Job Descriptions and annual Commitment Letters will
dramatically improve your Board’s effectiveness. See how a truly effective
Nominating Committee will lead to a better Board.
Get good ideas for more efficient Board management and administration, including
how to set up and manage effective committees.
It’s only $24.95 plus shipping and handling. Take advantage of a volume
discount of up to 20% and give this book to all new Board members as part of
their orientation.
The 3rd Edition of
Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune
is full of ideas to improve your fundraising, including how to ask effectively,
special events essentials and new ideas for fundraising.
Help volunteers get over the fear of asking for money and in-kind resources for
your organization. Learn how marketing principles will make fundraising easier.
Learn about Jean’s Ten Rules for Fundraising Success
and apply them to your organization immediately. This book puts the
FUN into
FUNDraising and gives good examples and ideas that really work, rather than
using hard to follow formulas and theories.
It’s only $24.95 plus shipping and handling. Take advantage of a volume
discount of up to 20% and give this book to all new Board members as part of
their orientation...
Or buy both books for only $45.00 plus shipping and handling. Order
your copies today!
Order Now So You Don't Forget
Go to the Order Form to order your copies of
The ABCs of Building Better Boards
and
Fast Fundraising Facts For Fame & Fortune ©
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Back to Table of
Contents
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
TAKE THIS QUICKIE QUIZ
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Please give me a call if you want to turn any NO into a YES. I can help
with:
- turning your Board into a dynamic group of volunteers,
- facilitating a strategic planning session,
- analyzing your current fundraising and suggesting some new ideas, and
- training volunteers and staff in becoming more effective fundraisers.
Back to Table of
Contents
Here is what people have said about my training and facilitation:
“You certainly shifted my paradigm. After hearing you last
Friday, it is the first time in 11 years as an ED that I was excited abut
fund development. And you got my Board members to that point as well.
Kay
Hopper
RDC for Children, Richardson, TX
“Your seminar in Dallas was the best I ever attended. You
are wise and hilarious.”
Mary Jo Dorn
Catholic Charities of Dallas
"Jean conducted an extremely well
organized and productive [Board] retreat, one that I can
say with confidence that our members count as the finest
ever conducted for us. Jean's follow-up report was
in-depth and meaty, and both Board and staff have
referred to it time and again. The knowledge of
boardsmanship the members took with them has made a
remarkable difference in their levels of commitment and
support."
Eileen Cook, Executive Directorr
Casa Esperanzaa
“Your training was invaluable to me. I dreaded doing this
because I couldn’t even sell someone a candy bar in the past but I was
inspired by your advice to try. I raised about $377,000!"
Joan Shepack
Keystone Botanical Garden, El Paso,
TXX
"I attended the Corporate Sponsorship Workshop - WOW! You
were amazing! What an OPPORTUNITY for me!!
Your presentation style was EXCELLENT. By far the best
workshop I've been to in a long time (content and style both!)."
Vicki
Kopplin
Epilepsy
Foundation of Minnesota
"As a senior-level development officer, I have a hard time
finding useful workshops. Jean's programs should be required for even us old
CFREs."
Trisha Dunbar
Visiting Nurse Association,
Dallas, TX
Jean Block
Consulting, Inc.
7915 Cliff Road NW
Albuquerque NM 87120
(505) 899-1520
Fax (505) 890-5285
Email:
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"I
love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun
and filled with helpful hints"
Toni Paglia,
Director of Development, The ARCRC
Syracuse, New Yorkk |
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