The Batten Group - Executive Search’s Post

WAFFLE....fail to make up one's mind, to talk or write foolishly. Do you ask candidates you are interviewing or vetting about a time they waffled when it came to making an important decision? How you vet candidates and what you ask them can make all the difference when it comes to qualifying. We don't waffle around when we want to get to the important issues in vetting and hiring. Do you?

Silos kill strategic thinking. But how can nonprofit leaders avoid them? According to Karen E. Osborne, the solution is simple: be curious. In her conversation with Julia Campbell, Karen talks about strategic thinking in a short-term world. (link in comments) And while there are tons of great takeaways, for me this was a big one-- silos kill strategic thinking. So, how can you avoid them? By being curious about what your coworkers are working on and sharing ideas, you can more naturally share information and work together toward shared goals. Karen also suggests being more curious - strategically so - with supporters. She even offers a 7-page list of strategic questions (yes, 7 pages!) to consider before your next cultivation conversation. Here's my take on curiosity-- Look up and take note of everything around you. Keep your eye on your vision, stay within your mission, and together with your team engage your supporters. This is engagement strategy. When you wield your expertise through an engagement strategy ✨ your tactics are more effective, ✨ you'll develop longer-term relationships with supporters, ✨ you'll increase volunteer retention, and ✨ you'll raise more money. Oh, and that photo? That’s me hiking in the Andes, not my typical morning walk but one that inspires me to keep walking. What are you curious about? What inspires you to keep walking? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you're ready to take your nonprofit to the next level, think strategically, and increase supporter engagement, message me today to schedule a walk and talk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi, I’m Beth. I partner with mid-sized nonprofits whose teams are ready to look up from their day-to-day, apply their knowledge and skill, and tap into their data to develop longer-term relationships with supporters so they can make their missions happen– easier. #fundraising #makingmissionshappen #engagementstrategy #nonprofitleadership #vision #mission #volunteers

How One Person Can Stump Business Growth 🚫🛑🚦✋🏾 I've had an enlightening experience serving on the board of directors at a nonprofit organization. Unfortunately, despite the potential, the organization never truly elevated—it just coasted by. Why? Because the board and staff couldn't align. From this experience, I learned a crucial lesson: if you don’t have a cohesive board and staff, change will never happen. The lack of alignment stifled growth and prevented the organization from reaching its full potential. Not every experience is meant for you to make a profound impact. Some experiences teach you what you shouldn’t align yourself with. It's important to recognize these situations and understand that they are valuable lessons. The great thing is, there are many nonprofit organizations out there. If one isn't the right fit, don't be discouraged. There are plenty of other opportunities where you can make a meaningful impact. Remember, cohesion and alignment within a team are vital for growth and success. Choose to be part of organizations that foster collaboration and unity. #BusinessGrowth #NonprofitLeadership #SuccessNavigatorNecia #CohesiveTeam #LearningExperience #BoardOfDirectors

Here are my tips for building better relationships with your board of directors: -- Nonprofit staff and board relations can be challenging! Many EDs talk about a lack of support or micro-management, and few express the ideal collaborative relationship. However,  now this is the perfect time of year to make a change towards collaboration! It is the holiday season, and most people are in a more giving mood or mindset. And you can extend an olive branch to get the wheels of collaboration moving in 2024. 🤗 Send a sincere thank you note expressing gratitude for how your board helped during the past year. 📱 Highlight your board in a social media post and thank them for their time and service to your organization. 👋 Invite your board to one-on-one coffee dates in January and meet at the office so that they can see your work in action. It may be hard to extend grace to another person you’ve had a rocky relationship with. Though someone has to take the first step towards building a better relationship, and you’re a nonprofit leader, hard things are your bread and butter!  Maybe the holiday spirit will kick in, and it will be just the reset you need. -- What would you add to this list? Tell me in the comments. -- ⭐FREE resource: Your Ultimate Guide to a Stress-free Year-end Campaign VIP access to resources such as templates, examples, and guides to increase your nonprofit sustainability. #gratitude #conflictresolution #nonprofit #leadership #change

Let's talk about establishing Your Nonprofit's Mission and Vision in 3 Key Steps! Heads up, new nonprofit leaders, setting a clear mission and vision is crucial to the success and impact of your organization. Here are three key steps to get you started on the right path: 1️⃣ Reflect on Your Purpose: Take time to deeply understand the core purpose of your nonprofit. What social or community issue drives your passion? Define the problem you aim to address and the positive change you want to create. Let this reflection guide the formulation of your mission statement. 2️⃣ Craft Your Mission Statement: Your mission statement should be concise yet powerful, conveying the essence of your nonprofit's purpose. It should answer the question: "Why does our organization exist?" Keep it focused, compelling, and aligned with your values. Your mission statement will serve as a compass, guiding your actions and decisions. 3️⃣ Envision the Future: Paint a vivid picture of the future you aspire to create through your nonprofit's work. Your vision statement should capture your organization's long-term goals and the impact you seek to make. Think big, bold, and inspiring. Let your vision inspire and motivate both your team and the communities you serve. Remember, a strong mission and vision form the foundation for your nonprofit's direction, strategy, and impact. They provide clarity and purpose, guiding your organization's actions every step of the way. #NonprofitLeadership #MissionAndVision #MakeAnImpact #PurposeDriven #StrategicDirection #Inspiration #CommunityImpact #CreateChange #NonprofitSuccess

Are you a nonprofit leader? Do you sometimes wonder if you're doing the right work? Helping your clients enough? Bringing enough value? Me too! 💟 And then THIS happens! Here’s the story: I’ve been working with a nonprofit client organization for about five months, extremely focused on: 🔷 Helping them feel safe speaking up 🔷 How to give and receive feedback in a constructive way 🔷 Building trust 🔷 Helping them connect with each other, especially the newer staff 🔷 Reducing strain and frustration in working relationships  🔷 Recognizing and appreciating the strengths that they each bring to their organization and its mission. After a recent working session, I asked this question:  ❓ “What do you feel is possible or easier today that was not possible or was very difficult six months ago?” 💖 The first answer warmed my heart! It said: 🙌  “Literally everything--communicating, working together, contributing toward goals, recognizing the strengths of others, admitting our own weaknesses, seeking help.” Followed by… ✅ Being together - less tension. Less defensiveness, more openness. ✅ Openly addressing conflicts or processes that don't work. ✅ Having more open and honest conversations about any challenges with communication and collaboration. My clients did the work! 🎉 I feel complete!  🌟 💟💟💟💟 P.S. If you are a nonprofit leader with a team of at least 10 people, I invite you to join my next virtual Roundtable, next Wednesday, July 31, from 3pm - 4:15pm EDT. Our topic is on “Feeling Psychologically Safe at Work”. Join us to connect with your peers, share perspectives, and receive practical ideas for supporting your teams to feel safe speaking up at work. 👉 To attend this month's Roundtable or be notified of future ones, simply comment with the word "Roundtable" in the comments or DM me and I'll send you the details! P.S. Know a nonprofit leader who would want to know about this? Have them DM me to get the details! #nonprofit #nonprofits #psychologicalsafety #workplaceculture #teamcohesion

Shirley Leonard and I enjoyed starting the day with Stephanie Markovic, M.B.A.-Utmost Potential, LLC's session on Presenting with Precision and Poise for Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners. My top 5 takeaways: 1️⃣ Great speakers are MADE not born. Embrace a growth mindset. You can cultivate the qualities you need to be successful through effort and strategies. 2️⃣ Best way to reduce anxiety - look someone from the audience in the eye. It will build connection, shrink the room, and relax you. 3️⃣ Speaking of eye contact....maintain it for 3 - 5 seconds with an audience member. DON'T scan the room aimlessly, you'll lose your train of thought. 4️⃣ There is power in the pause! It exudes authority and allows your audience time to digest and process what you're saying. 5️⃣ If you're doing a presentation seated in a boardroom, plant your feet on the ground. Most likely, your chair has wheels. Don't let shifting in your chair detract from your message. What are your top tips when it comes to delivering an A+ presentation? #leadership #presentationskills #networking #presence

Is your nonprofit organization feeling stuck? I have heard from many organizations and nonprofit leaders coming out of the pandemic that they just don't know what to do next. There's nothing necessarily wrong- they just feel like they are on auto-pilot. When this happens, you don't always need a large-scale change to make the organization feel energized and motivated. Sometimes you just need an honest conversation about why things feel the way they do and what you can do to turn things around. Consultants provide a unique outside perspective to help facilitate these conversations. What is it like at your organization- do you feel stuck or unsure about next steps? How are you feeling as a leader within your organization?

Is Your Nonprofit's Strategy Holding You Back or Propelling You Forward? 🚀 Strategy is key. It's not just a nice-to-have; it's your path to making your vision real. It's how you will win in the crowded nonprofit market. Signs your strategy needs a check-up: ▪️ Feeling lost? Throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks? ▪️ Chasing trends? Making your team dizzy? ▪️ Disagreements? Can't agree on top priorities without arguments? Questions to ask: 1. Does our strategy give us a clear roadmap? 2. Does our vision get clearer? 3. Is it ambitious but doable? What makes a "keeper" strategy: ▪️ You're clear on how to reach your goals ▪️ Focuses you on what matters ▪️ Helps you to say NO to "close but no cigar" options A winning strategy isn't just a document. It's a tool to focus efforts and make a big difference. It allows nonprofit leaders to lead more and manage less. Rank your strategy, 1-eh, 10-nails it. Share your thoughts! #NonprofitStrategy #StrategicLeadership #MissionDriven #NonprofitSuccess

One of the things and I'll speak to you specifically that usually there are three main things that keep most nonprofit leaders up at night that are impactful is their board, their staff or their revenue. Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/APW2t #Alchemy #Business #Coaching