Leading work teams can be extremely challenging because you are suddenly put in a position where you are expected to lead a group of your peers. Even though you are responsible for the outcomes of the project, you have no formal authority over team members’ actions. How do you get everyone to respect your position without appearing bossy? How do …
According to a recent article in Time magazine, “Your ability to attract, develop, and retain young leaders will make or break your company in the coming years.” These young people currently entering the job force are known as Millennials, and they are very different from previous generations of workers. The Millennial generation, also referred to as Generation Y (or, more …
I find it hard to believe we’ve almost reached the end of the year! My thoughts are consumed by trying to remember everything I need to do before the New Year. However, I also know how important it is to plan for what I want to accomplish next year – before next year arrives. If you’re like most people, your …
The average employer spends less than a minute reviewing your resume and cover letter. I never really believed this until I became a hiring manager. Now I totally get it! I’ve reviewed thousands of job applications, and I’ve learned what to look for – quickly. And one of the things I look for is a well-written cover letter. Your cover …
Being a non-profit board member requires a significant commitment of time and effort. I’ve heard plenty of board members refer to board service as their second job – except one where instead of making money they give it away. Yet, when done right, board service is tremendously fulfilling and enjoyable. Serving as a non-profit board member should be a personally …
I’ve found that many nonprofit staff members find it difficult to explain how they know their programs are successful. They can communicate what their programs are supposed to do, quote positive feedback from clients, and share personal observations that allow them to assume their programs are successful. Many can’t, however, provide data to support whether or not their programs actually do what …
I recently attended a few webinars as part of the Global Women’s Leadership Summit. I learned a lot, about a lot of different things, but my biggest takeaway was from a session on focus and vision. I learned how important it is for organizations to have broad focus in order to be successful. What is focus? Focus refers to the …
Non-profit organizations are not traditional businesses with traditional business goals. We can all agree on this. What I’ve found people don’t agree on is whether or not non-profits can learn anything from the business world. While there are a few key factors that differentiate non-profits from the business sector, these organizations actually have a lot in common. And non-profits would …
I’ve noticed when conducting job interviews that candidates have particular trouble answering questions related to their strengths and weaknesses. One question I ask is extremely straightforward: What feedback has a supervisor recently provided to you (for example, at your last formal evaluation) about your strengths, as well as your areas for improvement? If a candidate has trouble answering this, I …
In this competitive job market, you must be strategic to get the job you want. Hundreds of people are applying for the same positions, and employers have their pick of job applicants. You have to stand out from the crowd to get hired. Managing your career is an ongoing process, but I do have a few tips to share with …