Management

As I’ve gone through the last five years of my career, my job search has stayed relatively the same. When I’m searching for writing jobs, it doesn’t matter what the industry is, the job descriptions are all virtually the same. Except that, over the last couple of years, I’ve seen a lot of companies squeezing in witty little remarks, hidden questions, and seemingly ridiculous proclamations about what goes on in their office every day. [Example: I just read one that mentions bike races in the office…how does that even happen?]   Have offices always been this fun and crazy? Am I [...]

  Throughout the country, leaders work tirelessly for their nonprofits, often above and beyond the call of duty. Often nonprofit directors and their organizations are so entwined with each other that a clearly defined succession plan is never a focus. This can be especially true in cases where the director is also the founder, since it is difficult to think of one without the other. Eventually, despite their love for their jobs, these tireless leaders deserve a break--perhaps a permanent one.   [adrotate banner="95"]   For the next 19 years, 10,000 people will be turning 65 every day. Baby Boomers are [...]

I am staggered by the number of universities, associations and institutes that claim to teach “leadership.” And I am weary of the statistics about the male/female leadership gap, both in the nonprofit sector and in the wider world of business and politics. But I am even more amazed at the way the “leadership industry” targets its wares by gender. Don’t take my word for it – go to Google and search the keywords “men’s leadership” and “women’s leadership” (using quote marks around both). What did you get? Well, my results were 87,000 hits for men and 1,030,000 for women. Surprised? I [...]

“It’s Not You, It’s Me”  Watching a great employee walk out the door on to another job is hard. Employee turnover rates seem a consistent trend among both nonprofit and business sectors as technology and culture rapidly evolve. What to do? Keep that spark alive between your nonprofit and its employees. When Dan Schwabel of Forbes.com shared The Top 10 Workplace Trends for 2014, “continuous job search” was on the list. Schwabel reports that “73% of workers don’t have a problem looking for new employment before leaving their current employer and 48% of millennials say they conduct job search activities at [...]

You curled your hair and put on your patent leather shoes. You even put on lipstick without your mom’s permission. You are ready for your first junior high dance. Will you ask Bobby to slow dance or stand near the wall with friends? Will you go near the chip bowl, or do you not want to run into Mr. Smead, the algebra teacher/chaperone? This dance was supposed to be fun, but it is turning into one awkward night. Do you notice any similarities to a networking event? Have you ever hoped to become a better networker than when you were in [...]

Mentorship is the sharing of your expertise, experiences and advice with someone who does not have them. They are key to business success. Seventy-five percent of corporate managers believe mentorship was crucial to their own success. Mentorship is less common in the nonprofit world, but there are ways to change that. For example, two advice-oriented groups — the Center for Nonprofit Development and the SCORE Mentors Group on LinkedIn — can link seasoned business and nonprofit professionals with those looking for mentoring. Being a mentor can be good for your own career in addition to those of the people you mentor. [...]

I was recently blown away by a TED Talk titled, Ernesto Sirolli: Want to help someone? Shut up and listen! As a young Italian aid worker in Africa back in the 70's, Ernesto learned how we often get helping so wrong. The talk is so good that I not only encourage you to watch the entire 17 minutes video yourself, but also took the time to write extensive notes for those of you who prefer to read or scan text. For me, the video has not only inspired my thoughts on entrepreneurship and aid, but also is triggering ideas for how these principles [...]

Today, some nonprofit employees seem like rolling stones. They come in, work for a few years or less, and leave to other opportunities. Why are employees--particularly fundraisers--“gathering no moss”? Can organizations effectively quell the revolving door trend? The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports in Half of Fundraisers in the Top Job Would Like to Quit, that fifty percent of chief fundraisers plan to leave their jobs within two years. Forty percent are thinking about leaving fundraising entirely. “Too many organizations lack a culture of philanthropy, which means that development directors don’t have the conditions they need to succeed,” Marla Cornelius says. “It’s a [...]

  What are your nonprofit career goals? Are you considering making a career change within the sector? Or do you see yourself advancing in your organization over the next few years? Either way, it is important to set goals.   Bridgespan and former Bridgespan partnerWayne Luke discuss the steps to building your career in the nonprofit sector with Building a Nonprofit Career Path.   1. Focus on your current job. Do your best at your current position. If you are thinking about trying to advance within your organization or are thinking about a career change, doing your best now will pay off [...]

How can an organization create a compensation plan that will allow it to attract, retain, and motivate the talent necessary to carry out its mission?  Employee compensation is a significant portion of any business’s operating expense, but an effectively constructed compensation strategy can do just that. Many organizations may not realize the value of a good compensation plan or the impact it can have on performance. It’s not uncommon to think of compensation simply as a line-item expense and not as a strategic opportunity. With unemployment hovering around 4%, not-for-profit organizations need to think creatively about developing a compensation strategy that [...]