Lens on Leadership
Two-minute tips for leaders on how to create the types of vision, plan, and culture that will move the needle for your mission.
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Who Has a Seat at Your Table?
Who has a say in your organization's decisions? Getting the right people at the table requires knowing who needs to be there, inviting their involvement, and making it easy for them to participate.
Make it Ridiculously Easy for Supporters to Engage
Relying on passive approaches to engage stakeholders is a surefire way to minimize their involvement. Get more engagement by proactively inviting involvement in frequent, small ways.
Sleepy Board? Here are 5 Tips to Increase Engagement
Are just a few members of your board carrying all the weight for everyone else? Here are practical tips for reigniting some passion and participation by the rest of your board.
Is Your Organization a Frankenstein’s Monster?
The risk of pursuing every great idea or funding opportunity? You may end up with a Frankenstein's Monster of an organization - a sprawling mess of disconnected programs and operations.
How the GoFundMe Debacle Demonstrates Failed Leadership
A controversial marketing ploy by a fundraising platform serves as an important reminder to center others in your decisions and communications.
Important Decision? Agree on How to Make it First
If you want agreement on an important decision, first get your team to agree on how the decision will be made. Spend less time getting on the same page - and more time making constructive progress.
Debunking 3 Myths about Planning Amid Uncertainty
In times of heightened uncertainty, it is tempting to put off long-range planning. That could be a costly mistake. Here's what to do instead.
Is Jargon Muddying your Messaging?
Jargon makes it harder for people to understand your mission and why (and how) they should get involved. Here's how to make your messaging crystal clear without it.
Stuck? Ask Someone Else to Read the Label
"It is difficult to read the label from inside the jar." Ask others to help you get a more objective take on your organization - or yourself.
3 Ways to Use Your Strategy in your Annual Appeal
You’ve put a lot of work into developing and implementing your strategy – use it to craft a stronger annual appeal or report.
Two Simple Steps to Delegating More Effectively
Delegation is easy when you trust someone to get the job done. In other cases, it requires a bit more effort on your part – with plenty of long-term upside for them, you, and your organization.
3 Reasons You’re Doing Too Much (and What to Do Instead)
You can’t do it all; neither can your team. If you set reasonable bounds on what’s expected, delegate, and coach delegees, you can tackle more together - without taking on too much.
A Better Way to Apologize – and to Increase Accountability
Half-hearted, insincere apologies and promises not to do it again abound. There’s a better way to say "I'm sorry." It’s a perfect model for how to build a culture of accountability for you team.
You deserve a quality performance review. Here’s how to get one.
Boards often have no experience evaluating executive performance and may shy away from reviews. But without them, you’re missing opportunities to grow as a leader and help your organization thrive.
3 Steps to Focus Your (Team’s) Energy
When you or your team struggle to maintain focus, first get clear on your goals. Then choose a manageable approach and track results to ensure you meet those goals.
How can you Free up Space to Think Strategically?
Finding the time and energy to consider your strategic direction is one of the most pressing challenges for busy mission-driven leaders. Here are some tips for stepping back to see the big picture.
Use this ADHD Research to Reclaim Mental Capacity
Distraction, hyper focus, and brooding can be symptoms of ADHD, or simply coping mechanisms of a burdened mind. Here are practical tips for getting your mind back on track.
Get Motivated to Tackle That Big Change
It’s natural to drag your feet in the face of a big, uncomfortable change. To stay motivated, keep the end in mind, have a plan, and take it one step at a time.
Ask the Extra Question
How often do you jump into problem-solving mode - only to miss the real issue? Presented with an issue or question, ask an extra question to get to the root of the matter.
From Seedling to Stalwart Key #5: Know What You Do Best
Increased stability, even growth, comes from knowing what your organization excels at and investing in that core competency. Here's how one nonprofit did just that.

