Creating Our Future with Organizations by Design

I was in the grocery store earlier today, on a mission to find potato starch. I’d never bought it before, so I had no idea where to look.  As I stood there, scanning the overhead signs for a clue, another shopper sighed beside me and said, “I can’t find my thing either.”  “What are you looking for?” I asked.   “Potato starch, for me.” I added.  “You know, I think it might be down by the flour,” she said. So I wandered down that aisle, scanning the shelves.  I found potato flour, I found cornstarch—but no potato starch. For a moment, I debated buying the potato flour instead, but a quick Google search told me it wasn’t the same thing. I settled on cornstarch and made my way to the checkout line.  All along the way, people had been helping me look. Shoppers, strangers, all chiming in with ideas and encouragement. None of us had found it, but there was this shared sense of determination, a collective effort in something as small as tracking down an ingr...

I have a greater tolerance for change and risk than many of my colleagues. I'm often the among the first to try a new app or adopt a new strategy. Yet, even I tend to defer to the tried and true in communications.  But perhaps taking safe risks in nonprofit communications is about finding that balance between trying something new and ensuring it aligns with your organization's mission and values. In the world of nonprofit organizations, communication is key. It's how we engage with donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, and the community at large. However, in an era where standing out is increasingly challenging, it's important to explore innovative communication strategies that can set your nonprofit apart. In this blog post, we'll delve into the concept of taking safe risks in nonprofit communications and explore how to do it effectively. 1. Embrace a Culture of Innovation Before you can start taking safe risks in your communication strategies, it's essential to ...

Interrupting occurs for a variety of reasons rooted in human communication dynamics. Often, interruptions stem from a strong desire to participate actively in a conversation, where individuals eagerly want to express their thoughts, contribute, or offer insights. Impatience, a sense of knowing what the speaker will say, or a belief that the conversation is moving too slowly can also prompt interruptions. In group settings, people may interrupt to vie for attention and assert themselves, while misunderstandings or anxiety may lead to well-intentioned interruptions to seek clarification or manage social discomfort. Cultural norms and power dynamics also play a role, with some cultures valuing more frequent interruptions or power imbalances influencing conversational dynamics. Ultimately, interruptions are a complex interplay of individual, cultural, and situational factors in our communication interactions. Interrupting someone during a conversation can have various psychological effects...

  No, not that type of language. Working with our coaching clients we often hear phrases used in describing their work that undermines the power of that work, and of the individuals themselves. Let me be clear:  It is incredibly important to be a good communicator at work. Whether you are working through a project with a large team or navigating a complicated issue at work, communication is key.  Do you apologize for sharing your idea? Add a tag at the end of your sentences? Use the words "just" or "feel"? Diminish your opinion by stating "I'm no expert..."? In their article for  WomensMedia ,  8 Tips for Fearless Communication in the Workplace , authors Victoria Simon, PhD, and Holly Pedersen, PhD talk about the effect of adding tag lines to our sentences. Women have a tendency to use ‘weak’ language that serves to water down their message. One example of weak language is using tag lines at the end of sentences. Examples of these are: “This is a great...

I know it’s happened to you. You’re in conversation – about something controversial or not – and someone responds with a statement of their opinion, which they state as fact but in reality is not true. Whether it’s about the vaccine, politics, or how much nonprofit leaders are paid, they know the truth. As you try to continue the conversation, they repeat the same statement in response. No matter what you say. Frustrating for sure, and hard to move forward in a conversation. Unfortunately, what your conversation partner has learned is that repeating a statement somehow seems to make it true, even if it’s not.  The  illusory truth effect , also known as the illusion of truth, describes how, when we hear the same false information repeated again and again, we often come to believe it is true. Troublingly, this even happens when people should know better—that is, when people initially know that the misinformation is false. With the prevalence of social media, it’s incredib...