Leadership roles often requires a capacity to deal with multiple challenges. Consequently, we need to be able to share our ‘attention budget’ between various roles, functions, priorities, and tasks. Leaders as Jugglers The juggling metaphor is sometimes used to suggest the dexterous handling of these multiple demands. Each metaphoric ‘ball’ is given its due, and… Continue reading Juggling Cats, Chainsaws, & Bowling Balls
The Skilful Uses of Silence
Much of our thinking and advice about advocacy and communication focuses on speaking up. Most associations and charities think of themselves as being ‘the voice’ of their cause or group. Rhetorical skills and wordsmithing are highlighted as we consider how messages are framed and delivered to various key audiences. “Silence” carries a long history, with… Continue reading The Skilful Uses of Silence
Prosocial Parallels – Cooperation and Kindness
Nonprofit organisations are in the cooperation business. Nothing we achieve is accomplished without cooperation in one form or another. From cooperation amongst members and stakeholders to form associations and charities, to cooperation in the selection of directors, to decision-making by those directors, and alignment of staff and volunteers with the vision and mission – all… Continue reading Prosocial Parallels – Cooperation and Kindness
Rhetorical repetition, reiteration, and redundancy
“At the risk of repeating myself, …” How many of us have irritated an audience with ill-judged or unthinking repetition? For myself, I plead guilty as charged. By way of penance then (not pedantry of course), this post explores some of the ways repetition can either enhance or undermine communication. Repetition as a rhetorical tool… Continue reading Rhetorical repetition, reiteration, and redundancy
Reactive, Responsive, & Proactive Leadership
A recent exploration of thinking styles (see The [mind] map is not the territory) included a reference to automatic thinking. It suggested that unconscious (usually emotional) reactions to triggering events or circumstances can benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. But that was only a small part of the automatic thinking story. Reactiveness, Responsiveness, or Proactiveness Part… Continue reading Reactive, Responsive, & Proactive Leadership
Cultivating cultural competence & social cohesion
Divisive contributions to public discourse about overseas conflicts and immigration can cause our social fabric to fray at the edges. When we think about the tone of such discourse, it encourages us to consider whether our own contributions will foster social cohesion or promote further conflict. Social identity, cultural competence, and social cohesion are related… Continue reading Cultivating cultural competence & social cohesion
Divergent Thinking a Pre-requisite for Convergent Thinking
Whether we call it analysis/synthesis or differentiation/integration, we swap iteratively between divergent and convergent thinking while undertaking most governance and management tasks. While divergent thinking is often associated with informal and creative processes, it plays a crucial role in the formal and structured context of decision-making by directors and managers. We can’t carry out effective… Continue reading Divergent Thinking a Pre-requisite for Convergent Thinking
Counting What Matters: using non-financial accounting
Einstein’s observation that “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted” rings true for most nonprofit leaders. This is not to dismiss the importance of responsible financial management, but rather to acknowledge that there is more to governing a nonprofit than staying ‘in the black’. Key non-financial metrics… Continue reading Counting What Matters: using non-financial accounting
Are you a ‘responsible person’?
‘In loco parentis’ In a previous life, I was a teacher. Fairly early in my career, a boy in my Year 8 class was reported to have left the room. “Sir!! Kim’s outside having a fit!” With no idea as to the severity of the seizure, I had to choose instantly between my responsibility to… Continue reading Are you a ‘responsible person’?
The ‘Helpful Pedant’
Pedantry has a bad name. When we are nitpicking, finicky, or fussy, especially about trifling matters, we may be very annoying to our colleagues (and others). And yet … When we need attention to detail, precision, accuracy, or compliance with legal or best practice standards, a certain level of thoroughness is actually a prerequisite. Focal… Continue reading The ‘Helpful Pedant’