We've had the honor to address a range of organizational issues, from the challenges of leadership, to innovative tools and techniques teams are using to blow through creativity and performance barriers. If we've had the opportunity to work with or speak to you, here's where you can download a copy of the slide presentation we used. (We realize it was a lot to digest at one time!)
If you haven't been to one of our seminars or workshops or pursued a working relationship with us, take a look at these materials. They'll give you a hint about the kind of content and practical ideas we have to offer. And while some of these materials and models may not make sense without additional direction and explanation, we hope it will whet your appetite to find out more. In particular, note our attention to the sensible application of principles and ideas present in nearly every presentation.
Note: You will need a current copy (version 2003 or later) of Microsoft's free PowerPoint Viewer to view the advanced automation in some of the presentations below.
What Is Strategy? Is strategy simply "a good idea"? A detailed five year plan? Good strategy is elusive, partly because few people understand what "it" is and how vital it is to driving an organization. As a result, many have found it a complete waste of time. Spend an hour with us and you'll become a strategic genius, with the ability to distinguish between mission vs. vision, and how these and other elements resolve into a strategic game plan. We'll define what a "stretch" goal is, how strategy is formed and operationalized. Join us, and make strategy one of your greatest assets.
Vision: The Missing Link Between Purpose and Performance: This is a good synopsis of part of the "Strategy" presentation above. It focuses specifically on the "vision" component. We believe that is the single greatest missing element in organizations today. Yet most have no idea how vision is distinct from mission, much less how to use it to motivate and focus a staff. This presentation answers those questions . . . and more.
One-Page Strategic Plan Template: If you are looking for a one-page template you can use to outline a strategic plan for your organization, you have come to the right spot. (Best printed on 11x17 paper.) But make sure you digest the presentation "What is Strategy?" before you start!
High Touch, High Concept: Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind, presented six new aptitudes that will drive organizations in the 21st century. This presentation discusses each of the six aptitudes and presents 24 great ideas for integrating them into your organization. Very fun! But note: this download is large due to all the graphics!
Building an Talent Strategy: Look around. See any books or materials on the web related to creating an H/R strategy for your organization? We couldn't find much either. So, borrowing from the fine work of the Human Capital Institute, we developed this presentation suggesting some ideas for thinking about talent, assessing your current situation, and building a talent strategy for your organization:
Uniting Pastors and Elders for Effective Leadership: What are the underlying principles for an effective working relationship between elders and pastors, or for that matter, between any board and chief executive? This presentation presents five, mutually reinforcing principles that form the foundation for any effective board, and then suggests a model (the Carver board governance model) for how authority should flow between a board and senior pastor. It closes with some thoughts on the top ten responsibilities of a board and how to get started with the entire process. (For a para-church version of this presentation, see below.)
What Makes Great Boards Great: This presentation is nearly identical to the "Uniting Pastors and Elders" presentation above. But this one is tailored to para-church organizations:
Sample Policy Governance Documents: The above presentations concerning boards leadership reference the development of a board governance policy document. Here is, for what we think is the only place on the Internet, a sample Carver policy document:
And here is a copy of the board governance document formatted for use in a para-church situation:
Learning From Others: What best practices can we learn from high performing organizations? What sets them apart from their low performing counterparts. This presentation focuses on four key areas of performance, and offers practical ideas for improving things that really matter.
Getting It Done: While both are critical, strategy execution is widely seen as more difficult than strategy formation. We spend days making strategy, but months and years executing the strategy we've made. So what are eight principles of execution that will help your organization build a solid competency when it comes to getting it done?
Best Practices Found in High Performing Organizations: Does your organization bear the marks of high-performance? Based on several studies, this session uncovers practices common to high versus low performing organizations, and how you can employ these practices to improve the effectiveness of your organization. You'll be surprised at some of what you learn!
Best Practices Found in High Performing Organizations (203K)
Giving Executive Leadership to the Fundraising Function: Fundraising can be very complicated, involved dozens of interlocking elements. We'll simplify it by revealing a model that defines the 7 reasons donor development programs don't measure up. If you have a bottom line problem in the area of donor support, this session is for you. You'll leave equipped with the understanding you need to hold development staff accountable for results, with key metrics and practices to ensure your fundraising efforts work.
Solving the Execution Puzzle: You have good people. Everyone appears dedicated to the mission. So why do you struggle getting strategic efforts accomplished? Why do projects start strong, but end in a cloud of dust? This session solves the execution puzzle by deconstructing projects into 8 principle components common to all successfully completed projects. We dare you: Come with a problem project in mind, and through this extremely practical session you'll leave understanding why it is getting derailed and how you can get it back on track.
Setting up an Organizational Dashboard: We took the concepts of the Balanced Scorecard and went to work on applying them in a nonprofit environment. We included information on how to develop a "strategy map" as well as information on leading and lagging indicators. We even included some blank templates you can use to apply the principles to your own organization. Looking to measure a few good things? Take a look at this:
Breaking through Creativity Roadblocks: We've had some fun with large groups interested in understanding more about what it means to be creative, and then applying those principles in some fun and engaging ways. If you are looking for some team-building challenges to push your creativty to a higher place, try this:
Relationship Development Fundraising: Not so much a presentation as a philosophy, this single, yet complex slide captures our approach to raising funds by developing close friendships:
For a more complete view of our thinking as it relates to fundraising, consider this presentation, delivered at The Fundraising School in Pismo Beach, California. It is a combination of some of the above material, but gathered all in one place:
We'd love to know how you are incorporating these techniques into the flow of your organization. Take a moment and drop us a note about how you are putting these ideas to work and how they have unleashed new ideas and opportunities. With your permission, we might even post your comments on our site to give other organizations an idea about how they might put these tools to use.
