There used to be hard-and-fast rules as to what was, or wasn’t, a special event. Today, everything gets that label, from a small cocktail reception, to a board lunch, to a Gala Auction for 1,000. Nonprofits think special events are cool and a great way to raise money, but they’re only partially right. Events are …

Financial rewards can be a powerful motivator. The potential for personal profit can provide intense focus and efficiency to almost anyone. Indeed, incentives drive entrepreneurs in their relentless search for success, overcoming obstacles along the way. Money might not be their only motivator, but dollars (the kind they get to keep) are always their favorite …

Guest submission from Carter McNamara of Authenticity Consulting, LLC. There’s been an explosion of interest in the topic of leadership. Too often, we assume that leading always means leading others. Actually, that’s not the most common form of leading – and it’s not the most important. Most Important Form of Leading – Leading Yourself Most …

Few plans are implemented as intended. That’s one of the reasons that people lose faith in planning. They expect their plans to be implemented exactly as described in the plan. One of the unfortunate aspects of this situation is that many consultants assert that “planning doesn’t work.” It does work when it’s done well. During …

For nearly 30 years the heroic story of Johnson & Johnson quick action to remove Tylenol from the shelves after a deadly tampering incident has been folklore in business circles. So what do we make of the news today that The Food and Drug Administration is considering “additional enforcement actions” that might include criminal penalties …

My twice-monthly newsletter, Crisis Manager, is distributed by email and then is archived indefinitely at my website, where the crisis manager newsletter page gets brisk traffic second only to my home page. I welcome guest authors who would like to get some promotional value out of being exposed to my readers. The criteria: The article …

Finances Are Just a Symptom, Not a Solution When people think of financial sustainability, they usually think of getting enough money to pay bills for the long-term. Then they focus on strategies to keep getting enough money. That’s the wrong approach. 1. Strategy for Sustainability — Be Realistic If an organization is trying to do …

Organizational Change Unveiled: Definition and Implementation Every now and then I gift myself with the luxury of time available for reflection, and I “mine” my own learning of what existed. What made that effort a successful change process? Why did that one and that one work well? First of all, my experience is that organizational …

Over the years, I’ve noticed four common types of “broken” Boards. One of the ways you can recognize them is by the comments that members make. Here’s the types of Boards and what you might hear members saying. 1. Detached Board “Why are you calling me to come to a meeting? What Board are you …

Winners gravitate toward winners. They challenge each other and they push each other to give a little extra at the finish line. When winners lack challenge, they glide through the race. How are you challenging your winners? Do you know the potential of the members of your team?