“I didn’t communicate clearly and often enough the changes that had to be made and why they had to be made.” This manager was talking about the importance of providing a clear road map to his staff about the rationale, direction, and steps of the change. What people want from their leaders are answers to …

I saw a post this week with the song lyric that many of you will remember, “There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear”** The recent Occupy Wall Street movement raises complex ethical and spiritual questions regarding our global economic system. It’s not clear what needs to happen next to fix our global …

When developing strategy, managers are often called upon to interview executives and other managers on a variety of issues facing an organization. Questions often arise concerning the organization’s vision, or its critical success factors, or key strategies, objectives or goals. “What is a strategy? How does it differ from a goal or an objective? How …

Welcome to the new world of work! Whether you’re just starting out, on the way to climbing that ladder of success, or looking for a new job or opportunity, here are three career trends from JobMob as well as tips to adapt so you won’t be left behind. 1. Out: The Traditional Career. In: Multiple …

This is a follow-up to an earlier posting – see: Who/What is a Fundraising Consultant? Sometimes a client will accept as gospel every bit of advice/direction that a fundraising consultant provides. Sometimes everything the consultant advises/suggests fundraising strategies is questioned. I’ve worked with organizations/institutions that fit each category, and of course, I prefer working with …

Taking advantage of technology, a teacher in Potomac, Maryland conducts her Advanced Placement Calculus class a little differently. In fact, she has turned the traditional method on its head by having her students view her lectures via podcast and bring their homework to school. This has phenomenal applications for experiential training. According to Gregg Toppo …

GROUP DEVELOPMENT Below is an idea for a team building activity focusing on the what happens when new members join a team. Learning Objectives 1. To experience the process and feelings that arise when a new member joins an ongoing group with defined tasks and roles; 2. To explore the coping mechanisms adopted by the …

FYI: I’m breaking for a bit from my A-Z case study to share with you this article by Laura Lambert that I recently came across. The idea of spiritual menu planning intrigued me as I hope it does you. I’m part of a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group and this comes from another MOPS member …

Not Exactly… There are a variety of grants available, but they’re not all the same. Sure, the basic proposal stuff will be the same: organization information, mission, history, and general agency overview, but the guts of these proposals may differ significantly. Program/Project Support Grants • The most common type of foundation grant, and funded by …

Last week I worked with a group of telecom executives navigating Adaptive Change, change that is complex and unpredictable. During the check-in and check-out the challenge of connecting came up. So, close your door, ignore the phone, and let’s explore connecting. Connecting with others requires that we first connect with ourselves. This means being present …