The cover story of the March issue of Harvard Business Review* is focused on Work-Life Balance, which – the executives surveyed by the authors – consider either a myth or elusive ideal. However, through the research these authors conducted of senior executives, some helpful ideas emerge. The overall theme of the research is that we each need to own making choices around our … [Read more...] about The Balanced Life Myth?
If Not-For-Profit, Then For What?
We can’t figure out what to call ourselves. I most often hear “non-profit” or “not-for-profit, ” but both describe what we are NOT – not what we are FOR. We certainly aren’t for loss – though some organizations are mistakenly managed this way! We have tried so many alternative labels: philanthropic, independent sector, social sector, non-governmental, mission-based, … [Read more...] about If Not-For-Profit, Then For What?
The Dark Side of Confidence
Confidence is absolutely necessary to be a successful leader. And yet, gone too far, it can become arrogance and can lead to poor decisions – even disastrous decisions. How do we find a balance? One way to balance this is long term versus short term confidence. Long Term: “I am confident in . . . . . . the importance of our mission and the impact we make.” . . . the … [Read more...] about The Dark Side of Confidence
Experts Get Stuck in Status Quo
When you are stuck in the status quo there are a lot of things you miss. Opportunities are one of them. If you are sure that there is no better way of going about doing what you are doing, then you will for sure miss Opportunities. If you are an expert and you know that this certain way of doing things is the right way, then you will not see Opportunities for new ways to … [Read more...] about Experts Get Stuck in Status Quo
Strategic Plan? Oxymoron.
Strategy? Yes. Plans? Yes. Strategic Plan. No. Not exactly. What organizations need is a Strategy – an overarching general explanation of how they are going to guide their performance during the coming years. Then they need to build specific Plans to implement the Strategy. The Strategy should be targeted toward Strategic Stretch Goalsthat are designed to significantly … [Read more...] about Strategic Plan? Oxymoron.