Every nonprofit — whether a charity, professional association, or community group — faces a constant flow of choices. Some are big and irreversible, others small and routine. But all of them involve ‘decision doors’: a threshold between what we know and what’s next. The Decision Doors framework helps us pause at that threshold. Instead of… Continue reading Decision Doors
Tag: governance
Watch your words; they become your thoughts
The Power of Words in Organisational Life Before NLP there was Lao Tzu. His admonition to “watch your thoughts, for they become your words” forms part of a ’cause and effect’ chain which helps us to think about how present actions, and the thoughts behind them, lead to longer-term consequences. While the truth of this… Continue reading Watch your words; they become your thoughts
Moral Accounting and Reporting
For many nonprofit organisations, 30 June marks the end of their financial year. Consequently, thoughts now turn to finalising the trial balance, engaging with the auditors, and preparing annual reports. End-of-year is when we close the books, take stock, and reset. It’s also the best time to capture lessons from ethical challenges, identify emerging risks… Continue reading Moral Accounting and Reporting
The Dimensionality of Thought and Ethical Leadership – Part 2 (Praxis)
Praxis and reflective practice “Praxis is the process by which a theory, lesson, or skill is enacted, embodied, realised, applied, or put into practice. “Praxis” may also refer to the act of engaging, applying, exercising, realising, or practising ideas” (Wikipedia). As its title suggests, this post therefore seeks to assist nonprofit leaders to reflectively apply… Continue reading The Dimensionality of Thought and Ethical Leadership – Part 2 (Praxis)
The Dimensionality of Thought and Ethical Leadership – Part 1 (Theory)
How often have you witnessed a ‘debate’ in which various of the participants are on different wavelengths? One sees the issues as ‘black and white’, while another sees many ‘shades of gray’, and yet another sees layers of complexity in full colour. Even when directors share a common ‘moral lens’ though, their stakeholders don’t. Dealing… Continue reading The Dimensionality of Thought and Ethical Leadership – Part 1 (Theory)
Foundational Thinking for Nonprofit Leaders
The Meta-Taxonomy of Foundational Thinking (MTFT) model was introduced in my previous post (First Principles First). That version has been inverted and expanded in this explanatory article, to address the wider range of considerations involved when using the model for problem solving and decision-making. The header image (From Root to Fruit) uses a tree metaphor… Continue reading Foundational Thinking for Nonprofit Leaders
First Principles First
Thinking about first principles, the oft-quoted line from philosopher-comedian Groucho Marx, “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like those … I have others” comes to mind. Beyond the moral ambiguity implied, might there be a hidden reference to other legitimate sets of first principles here? If so, what would this mean for nonprofit… Continue reading First Principles First
The Consequentiality of Unintended Consequences – Part 3
Mind bending, surprising, and shocking plot twists are common narrative devices, designed to intrigue and entertain audiences. Yet when a plot twist occurs in our working life, especially when it results from our own actions, none of us see this as ‘entertaining’. ‘Tales of the Unintended’ in the header image is an adaptation of Roald… Continue reading The Consequentiality of Unintended Consequences – Part 3
The Consequentiality of Unintended Consequences – Part 2
The nature of unintended consequences (types, causes, and rating levels) was broadly canvassed in Part 1 of this series. This sequel considers how the side-effects of your activities fit within your risk management system. To recap – unintended risks are those we incur as side effects of our own goals and actions (or inaction), rather… Continue reading The Consequentiality of Unintended Consequences – Part 2
The Consequentiality of Unintended Consequences – Part 1
In the mission-driven world of non-profits, our decisions are infused with purpose, values, and an abiding desire to make a difference. Yet, despite noble intentions, our actions can yield surprising — and sometimes counterproductive — outcomes. Collateral damage, side-effects, and ripple effects are just some of the names we give to unintended consequences. We all… Continue reading The Consequentiality of Unintended Consequences – Part 1