Creating the Future’s Integrity Conversation: Monday, April 11, 2022 10am – 12pm Pacific time Topic: What’s Next for Creating the Future? Watch the meeting LIVE at this post. Just scroll to the very bottom of the page. Details about how to participate are below. What’s Next for Our Mission? Over the past few months, the … Read more
How can the questions we ask in our day-to-day work significantly enhance the quality of life in our communities? Last month, I was honored to speak at the prestigious City Club of Portland, to share what we have learned at Creating the Future about what really creates social change. And when I say it was … Read more
Leadership – there are likely few topics in the world about which more has been written. With so many resources and sometimes contradictory theories to consider (think “Servant Leadership” and “Machiavellian”), finding a personal leadership style that feels authentically “you” can sometimes seem like an unending quest. Establishing the leadership culture in an organization can … Read more
When preparing to plan, what are the most important questions to answer, to set the stage for successful and impactful planning? The experts in Creating the Future’s Facebook group for consultants to community benefit organizations have a wealth of experience in this type of work, so we asked for them to share their wisdom on … Read more
The quality of life in our communities is hugely affected by the work of many, many small groups of people who give their time to make something better. Over time, they attract community resources – volunteers, donations, gifts in kind, free use of community space. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the goal of our … Read more
In plain English, the word “mission” doesn’t mean “something we do forever.” A mission is either accomplished or impossible. We either get the job done, or we go home. Which means the most powerful question any change effort can ask is, “If we intend to accomplish our mission and actually change conditions in our communities, … Read more
So much of our power to create change lies in the questions we ask. Questions can encourage and invite what is possible – or they can shut down conversation in an instant. Questions can bring out the best in everyone in the room, or they can set an entire roomful of people’s teeth on edge. … Read more
Is your organization suffering from “if we just had….” syndrome? If we just had rich board members… If we just had another fundraiser…. If we just did a conference… As a board member, former Executive Director, and sometimes consultant/facilitator, I have experienced this syndrome firsthand. My bookshelves are heavy with the latest and greatest advice … Read more