The Elevator Pitch: How Clear Communication Connects with Donors
My wife and I recently made a large donation to a ministry led by a wonderful person we know. Later, when this leader saw me at an event, they gave me a book written by the founder of the ministry as a token of appreciation for our gift. During our brief conversation, I asked the […]
Who’s Really Responsible for Fundraising? The Board or the CEO?
Whose responsibility is it to fundraise? The board’s or CEO’s? Not long ago, in my service as secretary on the board of an international organization, I received the President’s Report to review from the new president. He included an appeal for the board to help with fundraising due to a budget shortfall. This may be […]
Remove Donor Friction
A friend recently relayed his experience donating to a ministry. He got on his phone, entered his credit card information, and then got to the authentication bit, a requirement for the processing company. At that stage, it became frustrating. My friend was patient enough to complete his donation, but would others? And while it was […]
A CEO’s Communication with Boards or Owners
How should a CEO communicate with the Board of Trustees? **This article was originally published on December 7, 2023. We are including it this week as part of our series on the Board of Trustees.** This article is written for CEOs, outlining how they can better manage their relationship with their governing board or the […]
How to Talk About Topics in Board Meetings
How a Board of Trustees talks about a topic matters. As a board member or chair, remember there are three ways discussion can happen in a board. Whether you are talking about fiduciary, strategic, or directional topics, you can apply these three methods, as appropriate: Investigative (Let’s find out.) This approach is all about exploration […]
What to Talk About in Board Meetings
What does a board of trustees talk about? I learned this from my friend Dr. Albert Reyes, CEO of Buckner International, and would love to pass it on to you. What to talk about in a board meeting falls into three categories. Being clear on this can help you plan and guide the board meeting. […]
What Should Be Your Greatest Accomplishment
As leaders, we are wired to accomplish, to build the team, improve the culture, break the barriers, increase the followers, increase the bottom line, innovate, create, and conquer the future. But none of these may be our greatest accomplishment. I want my greatest accomplishment to be how I treat people. How I think of people. […]
How to Have Difficult Conversations
What makes difficult conversations difficult? As leaders, we have times that we need to correct someone’s behavior, confront someone’s poor character, end a relationship, or give feedback to someone who does not want to hear it. Many times we shy away from these conversations. Sometimes we resolve to “just say it as it is,” and […]
The Concept of Seasons
This morning as I started writing this article, I happened to be working from my home office. My wife Joanne was about to take our 5½-year-old son Danny to school. She was also getting our two German Shepherds in our Suburban to take them to doggie daycare. When I stopped my work and went outside, […]
Necessary Endings
As I revealed recently, my friend and editor, Andria Flores, is transitioning out of our team. It’s on my heart and mind, so with her permission I’m writing a few articles to our leadership community as I reflect on necessary endings and how leaders can navigate them in a healthy way. I met psychologist Dr. […]