As I watch so many of us celebrating the beginning the summer season I am reminded of the many opportunities and blessings that we have as a nation and as individual families. So many of us are taking time for refreshment and renewal this Memorial Day weekend. We are extremely fortunate to live in a […]
Uniting Around the Tragedy in Uvalde, Texas
I would be remiss to continue my normal posts on non-profit leadership in light of the tragedy that has occurred with the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School. This has been a devastating week in our country and for all those who have been involved in this brutal set of murders in this Texas […]
Non-Profit Leadership – How to Inspire Innovation
There have been multiple issues facing non-profits in the past several years. The devastating pandemic has had significant impact that has left both clients and staff struggling. Historically many non-profits have struggled with limited funding, resources and staff to achieve their mission. The Great Resignation has also reached into our non-profit world recently and many […]
Non-Profit Leadership – On Being a Servant Leader
It is always interesting to see how individuals perceive leaders. For some there is often a level of distrust because of difficult past experiences or perceptions about those who have provided leadership in their lives. Leaders who are caught up in their own hierarchy and/or authority can appear distant and non-caring. Those perceptions can make […]
Non-Profit Leadership – Do you Lead as a Social Entrepreneur?
My background before I was hired at Lakeside was in small business. As a young man I was privileged to work my way through a small brokerage firm, starting out as a typist to becoming the manager of the business. In that process I learned much about the business world in marketing, customer service, administration, […]
Non-Profit Leadership – The “Doing Things Once, and Doing Them Well” Principle
I have great empathy for non-profit leaders in newly developing organizations as they strive to make progress, develop projects and move their organization forward in their mission. In my early days of Lakeside I found myself working through some very intense financial struggles as I attempted to bring us to a more professional posture in […]
Non-Profit Leadership – A Leader Who is Present
One of the common criticisms of leaders within a system or organization is that it feels like they are disconnected from their staff. I think that critique gave rise to the popular television show “Undercover Boss.” It is a show where CEO’s of various companies disguise themselves and actually work alongside of their workers to […]
Non-Profit Leadership – Your Organizational Story Really Matters
One important aspect of providing therapeutic help to those who are trauma-impacted is to begin with their life story. Our stories are so important for where we have been and who we have become. We have had significant life events which vitally need to be respected in understanding our present and future potential. I remember […]
Non-Profit Leadership – The Importance of a Trauma-Informed Leader
Last week I bumped into one of my new board members. He told me that he realized he needed to take some of our trauma training in order for him to be an informed board member. I walked away gratified that we had emphasized the importance of our training to the extent that he volunteered […]
Non-Profit Leadership – When Leaders Need to Teach
Most non-profit leaders go into the profession to change the world for the better. We have a strong sense of a meaningful mission! We strive to create new ways to think about some of our social problems. We want to bring opportunities to individuals that they may never have had. We believe in our role […]
