The single most untapped asset for any well-functioning nonprofit is teamwork. Team members that can learn to work together more efficiently and effectively will become a more cohesive team, be more productive, higher-functioning, and be able to achieve the collective results that have been set. It will also make going to work a lot more enjoyable. The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team model can help you understand how teams behave as a unit and how to work, individually and collectively, more effectively. The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team ™ is based on the work of Patrick Lencioni. You may have read his 2002 best-selling book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”. Lencioni’s model is built around five interdependent constructs: Trust One Another – Trust is the foundation of the model. When team members are genuinely transparent and honest with one another, they are able to build vulnerability-based trust. Engage in Conflict Around Ideas – When there is trust, team members are able to engage in unfiltered, constructive debate of ideas. Healthy conflict means team members have had the opportunity to share ideas, thoughts, and be heard. Commit to Decisions – Team members can have health conflict and disagree,…

When you decide whether you should buy or lease your new car, there isn’t a definitive right or wrong, or good or bad. Rather, there are advantages and disadvantages to either scenario. The most practical way to go about such a decision is to honestly evaluate your needs, operations, and expectations. The same goes for deciding whether outsourcing human resource functions is right for your organization. When you consider all of the responsibilities that human resources perform, it can be a bit overwhelming. The HR department really touches everyone in your organization, from the first hello to the final goodbye. Many Executive Directors think they can handle HR along with their other responsibilities—a huge mistake for organizations dependent on revenue-enhancing opportunities and donor relations. Forbes, in an article penned by Meghan Biro, reported the top 5 reasons for turning HR over to outsourced experts: It frees the organization to concentrate on core competencies. It saves money. It improves compliance. It improves recruitment. It provides access to the latest tools and technology. Why wouldn’t you want to consider outsourcing HR responsibilities? Four reasons frequently rise to the top: privacy leaks, failure to represent an organization’s true culture, dependency/loss of control, and…

Nonprofit professionals often ask me about the difference between leadership and management. By mid-career, executives tend to be good managers, but not necessarily good leaders. But to move up the ladder, good leadership skills are mandatory. There are many great leadership models, but one has particularly resonated with me: The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. James Kouzes and Barry Posner have been studying what characteristics make an effective leader for over 30 years. The researchers collected thousands of “Personal Best” stories — the experiences people recalled when asked to think of a peak leadership experience. Despite differences in people’s individual stories, their personal-best leadership experiences revealed similar patterns of behavior. The study found that when leaders are at their personal best, they: Model the Way. Leaders clarify values by finding their voice and affirming shared ideals; they set the example by aligning their actions with shared values. Inspire a Shared Vision. Leaders envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities; they enlist others by appealing to shared aspirations. Challenge the Process. Leaders search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and looking outward for innovative ways to improve; they experiment and take risks by…

There are few conversations in life as awkward as those about money. It’s an instant deep-dive into your most inner self—an awkward flapping of insecurities, culture, gender, and all that is good and not-so-good about oneself. It doesn’t have to be this way. “Our money taboo stems from the British, who, traditionally, deemed it terribly gauche to talk about finances,” says Jodi R. R. Smith, of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, in an article written by Laura Shin for Forbes. You would think that, as a society, we would have moved on from aristocratic concepts of earned and inherited wealth. But how much we make and the ability to negotiate those earnings is akin to being the smallest fish in the shark tank. It takes some skill to survive. So how do you talk about salary and compensation? You prepare. Check salary ranges by job type and region. The 2015—2016 NonProfit Salaries & Staffing Report is a good place to start. The PNP Staffing Group report covers hiring considerations, salaries, trends and considerations that are important for nonprofit employers and employees. “Do your research to understand how in-demand your skills are and what the typical compensation package looks like,” writes Melissa Llarnea…

Attendance at conferences can cost a pretty penny, even if the registration fee is a deal. Consider the hard costs: your registration, housing, travel, and meals. Add in the soft costs around your absence, and, like vacation, you may think twice about being out of the office for an extended time. The payoff is worth it—so much so that several nonprofits bring in temp staffing to cover critical positions while team members are out. So if you are heading out the door, make the very most of your conference time by using these tips. Plan Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” It’s not easy to take time out to plan, but the return on the time investment will pay off in spades. Take a close look at the dates, location, agenda, and speakers before booking your travel. It’s amazing how often attendees miss part of the day due to an unexpectedly long trek to/from the airport. Send out emails to colleagues from other organizations to see if they are going. Even if they aren’t attending, it’s an excellent opportunity for you to reconnect with people you don’t talk to every day. It also creates…