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A Documentation Challenge

How do you get information to document when there is resistance? One of the many reasons comes from not understanding the importance of documentation. There are also those who are not used to having documentation. They were trained by others so why waste time to put it down on paper? They do not understand the …

Finding Employee’s Other Qualifying Factors, Part II

As you can tell from the title, this is Part II of my previous blog on the subject. In our search for qualified people, we need to look beyond the direct hiring application and see if there are other qualities or experiences that a new person might bring to the company even if they need …

Benefits of Involving Boards in Projects for Change (Part 1 of 2)

Especially in projects for change in small- to medium-sized corporations, the Board can be the leverage point – the point in the project that can make the biggest difference – for success in significant projects for change. In these situations, if an organization seems reluctant to involve the Board, then change agents should seriously consider …

Staff is Overwhelmed: What Do You Do?

My workers are complaining they have too much to do and too little time to do it. I know we are short two staff people but we are under a hiring freeze. Also I feel, that with economy the way it is, they should be putting in 110%. What can I do? Some people can …

How to Address Fears about Program Evaluation

Nervous about Evaluation? In many ways a program evaluation can be like a well-child doctor’s appointment. Observations are made, evidence collected and advice dispensed to the caregivers. Someone I know, despite being a devoted mother, dreaded well-child doctor’s appointments for her firstborn. The visits made her nervous. Let us pause to consider why check-ups made …

Open Heart, Expanded World

This past weekend I attended a day-long meditation retreat using the mindfulness practice of Thich Nhat Hanh. It felt good to slow down. I enjoyed the simple pleasures of stretching, breathing, sitting and eating in silence. I appreciated the woods, the birds, and the fresh air as we moved slowly through the day aware of …

Working Abroad: What It Takes to Succeed

Should I take this job in China? That was a question from a US client. Her concern was not as much about the position as to whether she could fit in and be successful working in the culture. The most successful international businesses are those that take care to fit in well with local customs. …

Finding Employee’s Other Qualifying Factors, Part I

It seems no one wants to hire an exemplary person, but someone just to do the job. By “exemplary” I mean someone who has more than the obvious talent, education or experience for the job. It’s definitely easier to train an new employee to do the company job, than to discover hidden talents of an …

The First Step in Applying for the Combined Federal Campaign:

The CFC Deadlines Are Not That Far Away If you believe that the CFC would be a good fit for your charity, both in terms of your mission and your non-profit’s capacity to handle an additional method of fundraising, this posting and the postings on Nov xx and Dec xx will outline the process for …

Congress Gets Crowdfunding (finally)

You might find this surprising, but last week a bi-partisan US House passed a bill that actually had some substance to it. One that could actually help entrepreneurs and small business owners.