Focus on Leadership: Leaving Your Last Job — Is Retirement in Your Future?
Click below to hear the article
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Recently I had an experience that is for most of us a once-in-a-lifetime event. I announced my retirement. It’s a bitter-sweet decision and one not easily made. What went into making the decision is a story unto itself, but I digress. Knowing that it will soon be time to move on, here are some thoughts on how to leave a job graciously, to assure a smooth transition, and to keep the respect of friends and colleagues.
» Read More
Focus on Organization: Making Meetings More Productive — Know When to Say When
Among the more frequent lowlights of meetings is the continued discussion of a matter after action has been taken. Example: A nonprofit board recently met to select the accounting firm that will conduct its annual audit. Prior to the meeting, each member had diligently reviewed the three qualified proposals submitted for consideration, so they came prepared with their individual recommendations.
» Read More
Focus on People: Say Something Nice
Click below to hear the article
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The goal of The Align Angle is to give you brief but meaningful tips to help you achieve excellence. Sometimes we get so excited about a concept that the tip isn’t brief at all, so here’s one that is true to our purpose.
» Read More
Focus on People: How Old is Your Audience?
One important quality of a successful leader is the ability to communicate – with everyone. But do you ever feel like people are just going through the motions and “following orders,” yet you’re not really getting through to them? They know what you’re saying and they do what you tell them, but they don’t seem to embrace the spirit of the idea you’ve put forward. There are a number of reasons why this might happen – an uncommunicated misunderstanding about the issue; an unspoken disagreement; a disengaged employee; or maybe even a personality conflict with the staff member. But consider another option – maybe it’s a generational thing!
» Read More
Focus on Organization: Celebrate!
Click below to hear the article
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Many of us observe the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event in our lives. Whether it’s a birthday or anniversary, these celebrations are an important part of who we are and connect us with our family and friends. Ask anyone who has forgotten one of these dates how important it was to the person celebrating the occasion.
» Read More
Focus on Leadership: It Takes Practice, But Learning to Say “Not Now” is Critcal to Your Success — Part II
(See our next Angle for the conclusion.)
As we pointed out a couple weeks ago in the Angle, “Not now” is a much better message for a chief executive to give themselves and their boards than is ‘no.’ This is especially the case when the message is “Not now because we have higher priorities. And, chief executives, to make sure you’re accomplishing all you and the board members want you to, remember:
» Read More
Focus on Leadership: It Takes Practice, But Learning to Say “Not Now” is Critical to Your Success — Part I
Click below to hear the article
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
See our next two Angles for the rest of the story.
The most common concern expressed by chief executives at organizations with a small number of staff is, “I just don’t have time to do it all!” And yet they feel that to say ‘no’ to the board of directors is a nail in the coffin of their careers. So they work 80 hours each week and still can’t satisfy a board that thinks the executive can somehow manufacture time.
» Read More
Focus on Leadership: Nonprofit Board Recruitment – Finding the Right Fit
This is an excerpt from Align’s Nonprofit Leadership curriculum. If you attended Winter School on January 9, this should be familiar…
Board development is an ongoing process that ensures the board has the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to effectively meet the governance, functional, and expert needs of the organization. Board development is an investment in money, time, and talent. The right mix of people with a passion for the purpose can move the organization to greater success.
» Read More
Focus on Leadership: What the Heck is “Changesition”??
Click below to hear the article
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
There is almost no end to the material available on the topics of ‘change management’ and ‘change leadership.’ Some authors are pragmatic and some are creative in their approach. But there’s one thing we all agree on: the process of introducing and implementing change is virtually nonstop in twenty-first century businesses of all types.
» Read More
