Reaching for Your Highest Potential
You show your clients how to reach for their highest potential. Are you doing the same for your consulting practice?
The Hummingbird’s Lesson
Two huge Cooper’s Hawks race across the morning sky. In hot pursuit of those birds of prey, darting and buzzing ferociously, relentlessly – is a hummingbird. Yes, a hummingbird. The message is clear: “Get away from my home, my nest, my babies.” The image stuck with me the whole rest of the morning, and through … Read more
3 Questions to Create Visionary Boards
According to a recent study by the TCC Group, “leadership” is the most critical factor in determining the sustainability of an organization. So what will it take for your board to become the visionary leaders of your organization? Boards are taught how to handle their legal obligations, but that sure isn’t leadership. They are taught … Read more
Lessons in Love and Cultural Competency
My sweet cat is slowly fading. Her kidneys are failing, and she has almost entirely stopped eating. She’s been part of my being for 16 years and now I am watching as she slowly fades away. Last night on Twitter, my friend Christine Egger wondered aloud, “If you hadn’t been taught you had dominion, how … Read more
Is That Really Governance?
Last week I saw yet another workbook published by yet another respected Governance group, providing yet another list of principles for “Good Governance.” And yet again, of its 33 chapters, one chapter is devoted to “Mission and Goals.” ONE CHAPTER! The rest of the book is a chapter-by-chapter list of what we could all recite … Read more
Friends? Colleagues? Where's the Line?
Several months ago, when I was first jumping into Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter, I shared this question on LinkedIn: “For what do you use which of these spaces?” A young man sent this response: “While I agree that a colleague can be a friend and vice-versa, I do think that it is better not … Read more
Straight from the Consultant's Mouth
I’ve been sharing a lot about Pollyanna Principled Consulting and our Immersion Courses these days, mostly because I am as immersed in them as the students are! So I thought intead of hearing how excited I have been about these courses, I would share a note I received from one of the students in our … Read more
Do You Really Disdain Your Clients?
We went to dinner last night with a group from our Pollyanna Principled Consulting Course. During the day, we make sure the group’s creature comforts are met as best as possible, feeding them well. Great breakfasts (yesterday a frittata) and great lunches (chicken with mango salsa) and great desserts (cheesecake yesterday). Fresh fruit and pastries … Read more
3 Things I’m Learning from Pollyanna Principled Consulting
This week we have been immersed in another Pollyanna Principled Consulting Immersion Course with consultants from around the U.S. and Canada. As always in these groups, I learn as much as I teach. Here are just 3 things that have been reinforced for me by this terrific group this week. 1) The value of taking … Read more
What Everyone Should Know About Membership Campaigns
Oh no, here it comes. When times are tough for Community Benefit Organizations, a single article like this one (originally from the Wall Street Journal, then quoted at the Chronicle of Philanthropy) can be enough to send boards and EDs scurrying to get ahead of the latest new fundraising fad. Membership is by no means … Read more