Learning to manage employee downsizing can ease transition Aug 19th, 2008 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney You know the old joke: When somebody you know loses a job, it’s a recession; when you lose a job, it’s a depression. No matter what it’s called, when 51,000 jobs are lost in July only, all of us our touched by layoffs. While most of these job cuts are
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Changing nonprofit sector demands solid career plan Jun 22nd, 2008 | By: Raylene Decatur Dramatic change is occurring in the world of work. Are you ready? Rapidly changing demographics and the rising tide of expectations will shape revolutionary changes in job expectations in the coming years. Now is the time to revise or write your career ...
Employees bear half the responsibility in employee/employer relationship May 20th, 2008 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney Recently, I did some work for a fairly financially well-off nonprofit. While this may sound like an oxymoron, it isn’t. This nonprofit has had some luck, a good business model and longevity. With this success, the nonprofit provided very nice benefits to ...
Managing conflict with your boss Feb 14th, 2008 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney In a perfect world, conflicts at work would improve productivity and even relationships. However, in the real world, conflicts can result in damaged relationships and a lack of trust. A recent study...
Communications planning for executive transitions Jan 8th, 2008 | By: Cindy Willard So, you’ve just been through the transition process of hiring a new executive director for your organization. You’re excited, enthusiastic and exhausted. Now that the decision is made, it’s tempting to think you’re finished, but your job isn’t ...
Background checks can help hire the best employees Sep 19th, 2007 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney A few years ago, I interviewed a prospective employee who was just right for the job. His resume demonstrated the kinds of skills needed, his communication was easy but focused, and he clearly wanted to do the job that was open. In the end, I ...
Emerging managers: Giving and receiving feedback Aug 9th, 2007 | By: Bernard Ross Becoming a manager is often an exciting and nerve-wracking time in your career—exciting for the whole new vistas it opens up; nerve-wracking because suddenly you’re responsible not just for your own work, but for that of others as well. And if you’re responsible for ...
Good EDs can become great with development Jun 30th, 2007 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney Often faced with more needs than resources, Executive Directors must do their work by navigating complex power, funding and organizational structures. Being the leader of a nonprofit organization requires a vast set of skills that include leadership, ...
Levels of authority: The art of effective delegation in projects May 24th, 2007 | By: Bernard Ross As a project manager, does it sometimes seem that your projects have got out of hand? That there’s so much you need to do that you’re almost suffocating under the weight of it all? Do you have a nagging thought that there must be a better way to get things done? How good are you at delegating?...
Why employees leave: Retention strategies for nonprofits May 18th, 2007 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney I recently heard a story about an employee who received a very enthusiastic call from a headhunter trying to recruit him for a job. The employee said he wasn’t looking to leave the organization, to which the headhunter replied, “You are on my list of employees
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Engaged employees means better donor relationships Apr 19th, 2007 | By: Deborah Dale Brackney You’ve seen it and felt it: There is no mistaking an organization where employees are engaged. In those organizations, employees are friendly and helpful, and work seems to hum along. If you are a customer or client, you may leave feeling better than when ...
Three strategies to overcome burnout Feb 12th, 2007 | By: Rebecca Arno In the nonprofit sector, we work hard to achieve missions that often will never be realized, at least during our careers. Sure, we can measure progress using all kinds of evaluation methods. But will we stop hunger, end poverty, and create opportunities for all children to achieve their dreams? Probably not in our lifetimes. Over a 20 or ...
Employment services: Which type is best for your organization? Nov 7th, 2006 | By: Rick Mack One of the most confusing aspects of the human resources field is the different types of services offered. Should you use an executive search firm or an employment agency? What’s the difference between an executive search firm and an executive placement firm? Exactly what services does a temp agency offer, and when is it ...
The CEO Search – A critical task for any nonprofit Sep 22nd, 2006 | By: Rick Mack As many American nonprofit organizations struggle to remain relevant and viable in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive environment, the role of the board of directors is receiving ever-increasing attention. The work of John Carver, generally considered the Guru of nonprofit governance, is being studied far and wide in the nonprofit world.
There are many issues boards need to address to ensure that they are effective and acting in the best interests of their organizations. A short-list includes governance structure/board roles and responsibilities, identification and recruitment of new board members, strategic direction and objectives, budget approval, and last but not least, hiring and overseeing the CEO...
Ethical guidelines are a must in post-Enron world Sep 22nd, 2006 | By: Rick Mack The unprecedented failures in American corporate governance over the last few years have changed the business culture of our country. We now live in an age of heightened consciousness about ethical dealings in business. The culprits are household names: Enron, Arthur Andersen, Tyco and WorldCom, among others. ...
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