As a consultant, I’m not a big fan of executive committees. As a board chair, I appreciate how they can help the board and CEO. I try to be vigilant about our executive committee. Surprised to find this blog about rumors helpful (How rumors undermine staff trust—and 6 ways to quell them), I’ve recast the recommendations for nonprofit boards and CEOs. Document, distribute, … [Read more...] about Executive Committees: 4 tips for balancing efficiency with board engagement
leadership
Essential Strategic Leadership Skills
You have a vision of where you want the organization to go, but what skills do you need to lead it there? Authors of a Harvard Business Review article* suggest six essential Strategic Leadership Skills: *Anticipate. Pay attention to the competitive landscape. Look at new entrants and what they are doing differently. Look beyond product competition. What are others doing … [Read more...] about Essential Strategic Leadership Skills
Keeping the Organization Soul Vibrant
Many years ago when I was CEO of the non-profit, LeaderShape, Inc., we were a very young entity going through a tremendous growth cycle. I remember telling my brother that I just wanted to make sure we didn’t end up as a Harvard case study on “The Nonprofit That Grew Too Fast.” Fortunately, we were able to stay on a productive growth path without spinning out of control. … [Read more...] about Keeping the Organization Soul Vibrant
A Better Approach to Grief
As a Manager, what do you do when a work colleague loses a loved one? You’re uncomfortable just reading that, aren’t you? I’m uncomfortable writing it. A recent article in Harvard Business Review* suggests that we need to rethink how we treat one another at work when a loved one dies. In the view of the authors, most Managers simply leave the grieving colleague alone … [Read more...] about A Better Approach to Grief
Integrity Gap Survey
Leaders work hard to put systems in place to discourage unethical behavior, to create a culture of integrity, and to role model ethical leadership. Yet – even with all this – every organization faces possible breakdowns in ethical behavior. Human nature simply poses challenges to consistent integrity. What can leaders do to be even more vigilant in detecting possible … [Read more...] about Integrity Gap Survey