B2C/C2B – Building Connectivity between business and charity

Supporting charities and operating a profitable business are not mutually exclusive.

Businesses can help in so many ways, but like any collaboration, charities and service clubs can also help businesses.

Every organization has drama … what you do about it makes all the difference.

Every organization has drama.

Drama is virtually impossible to avoid because organizations consist of people and when you have two or more people together, the potential for drama exists.

That’s not cynical, in my experience, that’s just how things work. Whether it’s good or bad depends on how the organization reacts to and anticipates drama.

Tips for Entrepreneurs, Executive Directors, Managers and other Leaders

Big and innovative ideas aren’t the issue, putting big and innovative ideas into reality is the issue.  Many entrepreneurs, consultants, managers, executive directors, and the people working for them have shared these lessons will me. 

They work.  Use them, share them, and build your organization.   

“People who move rocks out of your path”

In a book I was listening to recently, the author praised people who take the time to clear obstacles from other people’s paths. The author’s explanation and examples had a very powerful effect on me. The book inspired me to write about people who moved “rocks” for me and for people I have known.

“Nobody seems to want to work today!  We can’t find anyone who wants to work for us.”

The real problem is some organizations are struggling to find people using tools and strategies that worked in the past but these tools haven’t been updated for the employment environment that exists today. It doesn’t matter if the organization is a “for-profit” or “not-for-profit.” In many ways the problem is a basic supply and demand problem, however, there are many more variables in the equation today than ever before.

Organizational Fear … what are your people afraid of?

Admitting fear makes someone vulnerable. Being vulnerable is not something that many people are willing to discuss.

To reveal the fears in your organization there must be a culture of non-judgment, open communication, and earned trust. If those three elements are in place, then by listening and watching it is possible to identify fears and the people who are suffering.

Revisiting Red Teams

Looking at new ideas and concepts through the eyes of the fearful and the critical can better prepare organizations for unintended consequences. Taking this empathetic approach can reveal weaknesses and potentially fatal issues. This process is called RED TEAMING.

Using Theatre to Train Your Team

Everyone joins an organization with varying levels of skills and experience.  The effective use of role-playing can generate incremental leaps in capabilities through fostering interactive learning between co-workers. 

Make your meetings count …

Good meetings don’t just happen. Preparation, Planning and Practice make good meetings. Good meeting techniques, like your organization, change and evolve. Some meetings will be better than others but your goal should be to have your people leave your meetings feeling like they understand what is going on, why something is happening, and be excited about moving forward.