Reflection is a critical step in assessing individual and team performance at your nonprofit. A reflective process, whether it is a structured process for individuals or groups, can give us insights about what worked and what could be improved. Reflection requires hitting the pause button and asking and answering questions. How many of us as individuals have the discipline to notice what we’re doing with our professional work or our team? Our natural tendency is to keeping moving forward on … [Read more...]
What's Your Personal Craziness Index? Identify, Take Action, and Avoid Nonprofit Burnout
In my newest book, The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout, the first half of the book addresses how nonprofit professionals can assess and become more self-aware about the symptoms of burnout and begin to practice self-care to avoid burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that occurs when we feel overwhelmed by too many demands, too few resources, and too little recovery time. There are physical symptoms like headaches, aches and … [Read more...]
The One Simple Thing That Nonprofit Leaders Do To Keep Inspired and Avoid Burnout
Yesterday, I was honored to fill in as MC and interviewer for Darian Rodriguez Heyman at the Nonprofit Fundraising Masters event. (Darian was welcoming his first child, a boy, into the world!). The event, a one-day conference designed to share the world’s most successful fundraisers’ secrets to success, most valuable tips and tools, and sources of inspiration. I did 6 fireside chats with Chuck Collins, YMCA; Annie Leonard, GreenPeace; Stephanie Bray, United Way; Michael Brune, Sierra Club, … [Read more...]
What Nonprofits Need To Do More in 2015: Embrace Stillness
The new year is always a popular time for all of us to take stock and see the big picture. And, every year when the calendar flips over, we embrace reflection and setting goals. However, we live in a connected world where we have gotten so go at being in touch, informed, and connected, that we don't know how to be alone and step away more regularly. People who work in the social good sector world are busy people, flitting from task to the next text or email. Too often, we can caught up … [Read more...]
Pioneers in Justice: Building Networks and Movements for Social Justice
Note from Beth: How do we build networks and movements around important social change issues. A generative social impact network links people together through relationships. They create social capital or value by making their skills, resources, and knowledge available to each other. Engagement in the network provides a bigger benefit than to the individual member, the networks can work on finding solutions to big social issues. A social impact network is different than a coalition or … [Read more...]
