Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good is a new book by Ann Mei Chang and I am pleased to highly recommend it. The book takes general concepts from The Lean Startup, by Eric Ries, and applies them to the social sector. Here are the three core guiding principles of the book: *Think Big. “Be audacious in the difference you aspire to make, basing … [Read more...] about Lean Impact: Guiding Principles
Blinded by Expertise?
You are very good at what you do! Congratulations! But is there, perhaps, such a thing as “being too good?” Here are seven “warning signs” that you may have fallen into what a Harvard Business Review article* author calls the “Expertise Trap”: 1. You’re unfamiliar with new technologies/approaches in your industry 2. You often use the phrase “That’s how we have … [Read more...] about Blinded by Expertise?
Develop Thriving Employees
Thriving employees are more than just satisfied and productive. They go above and beyond the call of duty, attract others who are just as committed as they are, help create the future of the organization, and are in it for the long haul. Research reported in Harvard Business Review* suggests that there are two components of thriving. First is vitality – a sense of being … [Read more...] about Develop Thriving Employees
Creating an Ethical Culture
Few people spend their lives purposing thinking about how they can violate the law and/or ethical standards for their own gain. Yet - well-meaning and well-informed people are ethically malleable; they can end up making lapses in judgement. And this is not just confined to the business world. Nonprofit leaders are certainly subject to these breakdowns in … [Read more...] about Creating an Ethical Culture
The Happiness Advantage
Research shows that “happy employees have, on average, 31% higher productivity; their sales are 37% higher; their creativity is three times higher.”* That is quite a “happiness advantage” both for people who are “happy” and organizations who cultivate “happiness” in their employees. In an article by Shawn Achor in Harvard Business Review*, he outlines three ways that … [Read more...] about The Happiness Advantage