For Non Profits

For Non Profits

The PeopleCap Playbook

Timely insights and actionable people strategies for leaders.

People Drive Results

Posted on by Katie Spencer

People drive results. They are the key ingredient for achieving nonprofit mission impact or its greatest impediment. If people are not performing at their highest potential, the organization isn’t either.

The buck stops with the ED. An Executive Director’s primary responsibility is to realize mission impact – primarily through other people – board, employees, volunteers, etc. Great leaders know how to mobilize, engage and grow their people to unlock their potential and maximize impact. Continue reading “People Drive Results”

Good Governance Gets You Through a Crisis

Posted on by Meg Crosby

Last week, I got a call from a non-profit in crisis. Trouble inside the organization spilled over into the board room when frustrated employees began calling board members to complain about the Executive Director. Because the Board Chair had not been evaluating the Executive Director annually, he was caught off guard by the sudden negative feedback and became very defensive.

As the issue heated up, the Board Chair, unequipped or unwilling to deal with it, abruptly resigned. Though the by-laws provided for a full complement of officers to carry on in the absence of the Chair, the board had not been abiding by those by-laws and did not have anyone in place to assume the role. When an emergency meeting was called, only a handful of members showed up, signaling a systemic lack of engagement. Continue reading “Good Governance Gets You Through a Crisis”

What We’re Reading: Measure What Matters

Posted on by Meg Crosby

book cover Measure What Matters

One of PeopleCap’s 6 Imperatives for High Performance  is “Sharpen Focus.” We are always looking for creative ways to help our client companies set clear direction and align their organization accordingly. It was with that in mind that I picked up a copy of Measure What Matters by John Doerr to read at the beach this summer. It inspired me to sharpen my own focus and put into practice the organizational goal setting methodology detailed in the book that promises to “turn good ideas into superior execution.” Continue reading “What We’re Reading: Measure What Matters”

Succession is Not About the Corner Office

Posted on by Katie Spencer

Photo by Philipp Birmes
At some point, leadership transition is a reality for all companies. One HR executive I recently spoke to is concerned that her 300-person company has built such amazing employee loyalty that approximately 35% of their workforce will retire in the next five years! Another organization is concerned that their founder-based brand will not survive the CEO’s retirement. And the CEO of yet another larger company has unintentionally sparked a c-suite jousting match leaving his executive team more focused on positioning themselves for his crown than on working together to run the company.

Whether a leadership transition is imminent or a decade off, succession planning is not about identifying an eventual replacement for your CEO — it’s not about who winds up in the corner office. Continue reading “Succession is Not About the Corner Office”

Board Meetings Are Boring.

Posted on by Meg Crosby

bored at a board meeting

I estimate that I have sat through over 100 board (bored?) meetings over the last 10 years and, frankly, I want those hours back.

CEOs complain about a lack of board engagement. But it is impossible to be engaged while sitting through two hours of a quarterly review listing every single task the organization accomplished over the last three months. The truth is that board members do have a lot of value to add. And they are eager to add it. The challenge for CEOs is to run a meeting that invites participation and thought leadership.

Boost your board engagement by changing your agenda. Carve out time in each meeting to: Inform, Educate and Engage. Continue reading “Board Meetings Are Boring.”

Feedback Follow-Ups

Posted on by Katie Spencer

Communication is most effective when it flows up and down a two-way street, without roadblocks. While this may seem elementary, many companies are just beginning to realize the value of employee feedback.

I was reminded of the power of open communication during a recent follow-up session with a client; despite major organizational changes the employee adaptation was swift, and the negative feedback was minimal. What was their secret? Company executives relied heavily on employee feedback and input when developing organizational changes, and implemented this feedback in meaningful ways. Continue reading “Feedback Follow-Ups”