Creating Our Future with Organizations by Design

  I’ve had quite a few discussions recently about aging! Even the book my group discussed this month had that as its central focus. I can’t get away from it. Frankly, aging isn’t something I want to avoid! So here’s my latest blog post: Aging Gracefully, Laughing Hysterically: How to Stay Young in Spirit Aging is inevitable, but who says we have to take it too seriously? As the years go by, it's essential to maintain a youthful mindset and embrace the joys of life with laughter. Here are my tips on how to stay young in spirit while growing older (maybe gracefully, but def with a smile.) Embrace Technology (Even if You're Confused): Sure, smartphones, apps, and social media can be overwhelming for those who grew up without them. Embrace your techno-trepidation and laugh at yourself when you accidentally post a selfie upside down or send a text to the wrong person. Remember, it's never too late to become an accidental trendsetter! Find Joy in the Little Things (Like Misplacin...

TL:DR   Adapting nonprofit programs is a necessary step towards building better programs that create sustainable change in the communities we serve. By embracing failure as an opportunity for growth, fostering a culture of learning, seeking stakeholder feedback, and piloting new initiatives, nonprofits can continuously improve their programs and make a greater impact on society. Remember, it is through our failures that we can truly build something remarkable. "The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times." —   Paulo Coelho Running a nonprofit organization comes with its fair share of challenges and responsibilities. As nonprofits strive to make a positive impact on society, it is essential to continuously evaluate and modify programs to ensure effectiveness and relevance.  As an Interim Director, I often find that programs have been carried simply because "we've always done it that way." During my tenures, I give organizations the opportu...

  Ever since that brilliant teacher Ted Lasso talked about being curious, I've been wanting to write this blog! In a world obsessed with snap judgments and closed-mindedness, it's time to break free from the chains of judgment and embrace the power of curiosity. Curiosity not only expands our horizons but also fuels personal growth and connection. So, let's get edgy and explore why being curious, not judgmental, is the ultimate game-changer. Unleash Your Inner Rebel: Curiosity is rebellion against the status quo. It challenges the norm, defies assumptions, and opens doors to uncharted territories. It's time to ditch the judgmental mindset that holds you back and embrace the audacious power of curiosity. Empathy Starts with Curiosity: Instead of instantly judging others, why not pause and get curious? Curiosity allows us to put ourselves in someone else's shoes, truly understand their story, and cultivate empathy. It's time to trade in our judgmental goggles for...

  When folx ask how I am, I find myself often responding, "busy." And all too often recently, "too busy." I have a simple measure for my busyness. How many pairs of underwear are in my laundry pile. My laundry should have about seven pairs of underwear in it. Today it had 30. And why do I have 30 pairs of underwear? Well, when I'm ridiculously busy, I stop and buy new pairs -- because as mom always said, you must wear clean underwear. How many times have I been overscheduled that I couldn't stop to do laundry, and now have over 30 pairs of underwear!?!? Obviously, 'busy" is not a good response to 'how are you." It means I'm too scheduled to even think about my health - physical and mental. And, if I stopped to think about it, the real response would be something like, "I'm tired. I'm missing my deep connections. I'm away from home too much. I need some rest and fun." One of the casualties of leading a perpetually b...

  Changing my title to Professional Disrupter. As a professional Interim Director, my job is to look at the systems in place in an organization, and figure out if the organization can better serve the clients, staff, and community through change or process improvements. It often means shaking up systems that have been in place, but not necessarily serving those they were meant to serve. Disruption isn’t easy. Change isn’t easy. Heather Simmons wrote, “Those who disrupt their industries change consumer behavior, alter economics, and transform lives.” Disruptor here. Barbara

  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...

  As Executive Leadership we are often expected to “have all the answers.” We are the miracle workers, ego massagers and cajolers often tasked with challenging our worlds by coming up with solutions to what may seem like insurmountable obstacles. Our worst nightmare is coming to the conclusion that the best course is to “fail” as it is perceived by the outside world. Sometimes the answers aren’t what we’d hoped for. As founding Executive Director of 10 Hairy Legs dance company this is what I faced during the COVID pandemic. The shutdown in March 2020 ended all of our earned revenue and special event income for the remainder of the season on June 30, including our all important New York season. There was widespread fear and panic among stakeholders that reflected their own personal uncertainties related to the pandemic yet initially they were committed to our survival. We did have some funds in the bank but went into preservation mode, stopping all pay to artists and staff as of A...

  Mukesh Gupta wrote, "We know that the ability to ask good questions can go a long way in how effective we are as leaders, entrepreneurs or in the process of discovery and innovation. Questions typically create the frame of reference within which the answer is thought in. They create the prototypical “Box” and if we are to think outside the box, we need to create a different question that allows us to think in a bigger box. We can never truly think outside the box but we can definitely think in a different box." Leaders develop constructive questioning techniques which help us to gradually understand how things work and what isn’t working. When it comes to creating changes, it can be easy to focus on what’s wrong, what’s missing, what’s not working and what needs fixing. And while it might be a helpful way to understand how you got to where you are, it’s not necessarily a great way to create the energy, buy-in and momentum that you may need to get to where you want to go ...