The past two editions of the Angle have reminded chief executives that saying ‘not now’ is important for themselves and for the organization. To wrap up the series, here are tips that recap what we’ve said.

·         Have a strategic plan and have the items on the plan in priority order.
·         Know approximately how many hours over what amount of time (days, weeks, months or years) it will take to accomplish each initiative.
·         Keep yourself focused on the highest priorities.
·         Keep your board focused on the highest priorities.

·         When the board asks you to accomplish something that is not in your strategic plan, remind them you’ll need to find the resources, including time, to accomplish the requested action.

  • ·         If the add-on initiative fits with the overall goals of the organization, ask who on the board or from the community can help.
    •      o   If no one volunteers, ask if you can look at your schedule for accomplishing the strategic goals and get back to them with a realistic plan for adding this latest idea.