There’s an old joke that a CEO’s chief complaint is “my board is disengaged” and that this is tied with another complaint, “my board is engaged.” If this rings true for you or gave you a chuckle, you’re not alone. Last month we focused on the causes of micromanagement by nonprofit boards. So, what are […]

In the nonprofit boardroom, this one thing is considered a cardinal sin, and unfortunately, it’s one that happens all too often. Any guesses on what it might be? If your mind is like mine, you probably went straight to worst case scenario—having an affair with your Executive Director. The good thing is that no, it’s […]

Five years ago I challenged myself to apply for the altMBA, an intensive four week online leadership course that challenges its students to level up through new skills while also pro viding an opportunity for people to share experiences in an engaging cohort format. After being accepted, a stack of what felt like 20 books […]

The Secret Sauce: 3 Ingredients of a strong Board/ED partnership Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. Sadly, this statistic might even be higher in the nonprofit sector if you consider the relationship between a board and the executive director (ED) to be a partnership akin to marriage. “It’s not you, it’s me” has […]

Do you have a predominantly positive or negative effect on others? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself this question? And I don’t mean how you think others perceive you. I mean, do you have a positive or negative influence on others? Are you lifting people up or tearing them down? Are you helping them to recharge, […]

In Seth Godin’s blog “In control,” he asks, “Do you know anyone who has managed to gain control over things outside of their grasp?” He then uses the example of honking at traffic as an expression of the need to control the uncontrollable. I wish I could say I weren’t guilty of this, but lo […]

With spring upon us, now is as good a time as any to create some habits you’ll thank your future self for. The post was inspired by a 2021 blog post by Seth Godin, entrepreneur extraordinaire and best-selling author. In Seth’s words, “a simple substitute might change a habit.” Here are 10 ideas for nonprofit […]

Maya Angelou famously said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In storytelling, it is the feeling that we most aim to capture. So often, though, staff and board members get caught up in having the latest numbers, facts, and […]

Your hopes were high for the new board member. She has a stellar reputation and is THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY—someone known for her connections. You and your fellow board members thought that recruiting her to your board would be a huge victory—she would be an ambassador who would share your story in circles you could only […]

You thought the 7-year itch was just a myth, but it’s actually a real thing. However, unlike most 7-year itch scenarios, this one isn’t referring to your life partner. It’s the nonprofit board you serve on. Here are some telltale signs that you’re feeling the itch: You are bored and have been for quite some […]