Do you feel like your nonprofit needs a “Ghostbuster” to bring everyone back to life?  Is your board actively engaged in your nonprofit?

Most people feel that answer is no. Many times, it is tough to get board members engaged as each person is serving on a board for different reasons.

There’s no one size fits all board.

When Kristen Laramore joined us for a Consultant Connection, we were thrilled. We wanted to talk about her journey as a leader and surprised us by saying she landed her dream job, a job she didn’t know existed!

Leadership and NASCAR. The two words, at first glance, may not seem to fit together.

For Hardy Smith, they do. Hardy was able to work under the Bill France family, founder and owner of NASCAR. The lessons learned in his 30-year career with NASCAR have helped Hardy become the leader he is today. It has greatly impacted his service with nonprofit organizations and chambers.

We’ve all been through the pandemic, the shock, the transitions, the setbacks, and reactions to the start and stop of funding and keeping our mission on track.

So, now that we are on what looks to be the other side of the pandemic, how do we take our lessons, our courage of fighting through the pandemic, and move our mission forward again?

Have you ever moved to a new area? One where you didn’t know anyone? That’s what Sabeen Perwaiz of Florida Nonprofit Alliance did.

Sabeen moved to Jacksonville from New York with her husband. He was from Jacksonville and his family was there, Sabeen knew him and had met the family, but didn’t know anyone else.

In such uncertain times, trying to plan a strategy may seem scary. With the need to adjust and pivot so quickly, it’s normal to have a “why bother” attitude toward strategic planning.

The fast-paced changes that the pandemic brought about have left you on the continual need to stamp out fires and even at odds of how to proceed for a thriving future.

If your organization hasn’t revamped your vision recently, it’s likely you’re attempting to limp along with the day-to-day with an outdated plan.  Now is the perfect time to pause and develop your strategic plan.

A little-known fact about me is that I am a HUGE R&B music fan, with a special love of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s variety. If you are as well, chances are you just finished this blog title with a tune in your head from Tony Toni Tone’s “It’s Your Anniversary”. To be sure, listening to this genre of music makes me smile, breathe a little easier, and sing along with joy.

What’s in a Name?

Imagine if you will… a young girl ALWAYS being last to be seated in a classroom. Becoming best friends for a time with another wayward soul given the last name of Young because teachers were still at the time putting students in alphabetical order.  Ah the benefits of a last name that begins with a “W” and growing up in the 80s!

Read More “Rumbling With Your Personal Story & Brand”

Though it’s been around for a few years, I’ve recently just learned of a concept that I want to share with you – humanistic leadership.

In large part due to the amazing folks I’ve met as part of my Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator status, I’ve had the great privilege of surrounding myself with colleagues I consider much smarter than myself including Angela Lehr and Susie Vaughan. These two professionals recently completed a research study interweaving humanistic leadership with the impact of the pandemic on grief and resilience. What they found was fascinating!

Read More “Putting the Human Back into Leadership”

Part of my personal professional development journey often includes challenging myself with reading books by leaders in “other” sectors. You know, those business books not directly meant for we warm-fuzzy nonprofit people.Some of my favorites have included: You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader; The Five Dysfunctions of a Team; New Ideas from Dead CEOs and a recent favorite Creativity Inc.