Turn a massive breakdown into a powerful business breakthrough

There I was. Depressed, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Despite my best efforts to have a smooth running ship and organize my event, I realized I had a significant breakdown in my process. I admit, it wasn’t the end of the world, but come on, I teach this stuff! It was one week before we went live on our new program, we were preparing the workbooks for production, and I realized, no one ordered the right tabs! Yikes!

It got me thinking how a client of mine had shared a great story about their direct mail marketing campaign. A lot of money had been invested in buying a list of qualified candidates. But every step of the way there was breakdown in the process – the guy who formatted the list didn’t set it up right, the assistant didn’t have the proper envelopes, and they had no postage when they needed it. My client laughed as he told me this, but I knew he was frustrated!

Well, I’ve learned over the years that a breakdown means that something very valuable is happening – I have new insight into how I can improve my process, my attitude, or my belief so that problem never happens again.

Let’s look at a few examples of how breakdowns can occur in our business or life.

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Meeting success tip

The mover of a motion does not have to vote for it. Putting a motion on the floor is a technique to facilitate control of discussion and to focus the meeting on making that discussion productive.

NFP Communications Research and Toolkit offer

A recent US survey of Not for Profit organisations has found that many NFPs are lacking effective marketing and communications with current and would-be supporters.

The study, conducted by Not for Profit consultation group Cause Communications, found only one in five respondents knew what their peers were doing in the area of communications, and 90 percent of respondents said their organisations did no market research on their target audience.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents answered that their communications budget could be better; 12 percent said they had no such budget at all.

Lisa Witter, the executive vice president of a New York consulting firm says that while both large and small NFPs have been traditionally excellent with organisation, policy, and fundraising, communication and media relations remains at a deficit.

Those tasks, experts say, are essential to widening recognition of an organisation's goals and broadening long-term support.

The situation in Australia is expected to be very similar.

The result of this research has seen Cause Communications produce an exhaustive Communications Toolkit that translates well to the Australian scene. Called A Guide to Navigating Communications for the Nonprofit World the 70 page hard-bound toolkit offers information and advice - everything from research basics, branding and message development and budgeting to advertising, campaigns, guerilla marketing and media relations. It cleverly offers 'roadside assistance' sections in each chapter offering website addresses, publications and fast facts.It has work sheets, planning sheets and pro forma release forms…everything to make the NFP marketing and communications job easier.While some of the examples relate to the American scene, the information is non-country specific and there are plenty of websites links that are internationally based.

Apart from all this, it is a beautifully designed and laid out publication with a heavy duty cover that is meant for the hard work required in any Not for Profit organisation. The book was made possible by support from The Annenberg Foundation, The California Endowment, The James Irvine Foundation and The Marguerite Casey Foundation.

As well the electronic version of the Toolkit can be download FREE in PDF format from the Cause Communication website at http://www.causecommunications.org/CC/CC_news06_1.html. Just register your details.

(Editor's note: The registration form doesn't have a code for Australia so I chose sunny California, but all the other info was true and correct!) Hard copies are so far only available in the US.

From ProBono Australia: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/new/default.asp?a=2&b=1343&d=1

AOL to pay bulk email fees for nonprofits

AOL considers charging high-volume senders of eMail to ensure delivery

Update: Responding to sharp criticism about a proposed bulk-eMailing fee, America Online Inc. said nonprofit organizations will not have to pay to send mass messages to their members after all.

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Organisational reports - be prepared

Presenting a report involves all of the techniques involved in other forms of communication. They all involve getting a message across – and that may involve just your content, but it may also involve a message about yourself.

During any event or meeting or project, store notes on each stage to aid in compiling reports. These may be stored in your PC or laptop, or simply in paper form in a folder. Remember, information not reported is almost as though it never happened.

So a report is vital to the evaluation and growth of the whole organisation. It can motivate as much as it can inform. It keeps members informed so they are prepared for the future and are aware of the past. It gives higher officers the input they need to function effectively and to inform the Board. And because written knowledge can be saved, it is a record for the future.

Report writing and presentation is a vital aspect of any organisational member’s training. It provides practice in clear logical expression. Thoughts are organised so they can be presented in a more meaningful, accurate and complete form. It can also be practice in self-promotion and promotion of the organisation.

Meeting success tip

Before you go ahead with your meeting, ask “Is this meeting necessary?”  Look at alternatives in terms of cost effectiveness, what need is to be filled more effective formats, levels of accountability and the possibility of using policy or procedure checklists instead.  

Communication success tip - constructive criticism

Everyone appreciates constructive criticism.  But it is so much more palatable and therefore effective if it is couched between two layers of well-deserved praise.

More on Communication

Getting Noticed on the net

Getting Noticed on the Net- Web Site Registration
 
Have you "Googled' your Not for Profit and found that it doesn't appear on the search results? Or are you relegated to page seventeen among thousands of competing sites? Correctly registering a Not for Profit with major search engines and web directories is the way to get noticed on the Net!
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Discover the leader within you

"Learn to Lead: Discover the Leader Within You"
Everyone has seen a good leader in action. And, as we have all witnessed, he or she seems to easily create a vision, influence others to commit to the vision and then empowers these same individuals to succeed in achieving the vision.
Additionally, he or she simultaneously wears different hats, acting as teacher, cheerleader, even as a sounding board, as the “team” works to make the vision a reality.
In watching this phenomenon, most of us have wondered: Can strong, effective, productive, successful leadership be learned?
The answer to this question is a clear, definitive “Yes.”
In fact, some leadership skills and behaviors are already present in you. You just have to learn to tap into them fully. Some of them may be foreign to you now, but with a little bit of perseverance and application you can learn to cultivate them.
Article continues

Keeping up to date with critical issues

Westlaw Watch streamlines the process for keeping your organization up-to-date on critical business issues, legal topics and competitive matters. This easy-to-use, interactive tool allows the monitoring and management of clips across your organization with the ability to deliver results via e-mail distribution or through seamless links on your intranet or portal. Individual users, a select group of users or the entire organization can receive relevant news or legal information in their preferred format when they want it

Personal Internet surfing at works costs heaps

Personal Internet surfing at work costs Companies over $300 billion a year
According to a new survey by America Online and Salary.com, summarized by Dan Malachowski, the average worker admits to wasting 2.09 hours per 8-hour workday, not including lunch and scheduled break-time. The survey indicates that employees are wasting about twice as much time as their employers expect. Salary.com calculated that employers spend $759 billion per year on salaries for which real work was expected, but not actually performed.
The biggest distraction is personal Internet use by 44.7% of the more than 10,000 people polled. Socializing with co-workers came in second at 23.4%. Conducting personal business, "spacing out," running errands, and making personal phone calls were the other popular time-wasting activities in the workplace.
 
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National roundable of nonprofit organisations

Nonprofit Roundtable aims to enhance the extraordinary work and effort already undertaken by nonprofit organisations in Australia. It seeks to promote and strengthen the reputation and recognition of the sector and to increase the infrastructure and capacity of the sector to deliver important economic and social contributions to Australia and beyond. The objects of the Roundtable include:· - to encourage voluntary and philanthropic endeavour · - to enhance the recognition of and promote support for the work of nonprofit organisations· - to provide a national forum for the exchange of information, research and knowledge· - to undertake, initiate or coordinate research to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organisations· - to inform decision makers in respect of issues affecting nonprofit organisations· - to be a voice on issues which affect nonprofit agencies· - to enhance the cooperation and engagement between business, government and other sectors of society with the nonprofit sectorVisit the website

Corporate social responsibility

Corporate social Responsibility  -  Forum 2006

2-3 March Marriott Hotel, Sydney

Corporate Social Responsibility Forum 2006” is a highly interactive two day event addressing strategic issues confronting organisations dealing with the latest developments and challenges in corporate social responsibility. This forum brings together a group of leading practitioners from a variety of backgrounds to discuss key challenges confronting organisations. They will speak candidly about their experiences, sharing lessons on what worked, what didn’t and what the future might hold. Each in different ways, our presenters will highlight the strategies, key programs and the  infrastructure required to:

• Successfully engage stakeholders

• Measure the effectiveness of existing approaches and
identify areas in need of improvement

• Bring the values to life throughout the organisation

• Develop strategic partnerships

• Effectively communicate CSR

• Use CSR as tool for competitive advantage

• Attract and keep the right people

More Information

Launch of Australian Philanthropy Journal

From ProBono Australia



NSW Govt Promotes Corporate Philanthropy

The NSW Government is encouraging greater corporate philanthropy with the launch of a special NSW edition of the Australian Philanthropy journal.DoCS’ Communities Division Executive Director, Sonja Stewart, says that while there are signs that increasing numbers of trusts and foundations ware being established in the State, local research had shown Australians were not giving as much as they could.

Stewart says that with approximately 7,000 Not for Profit organisations providing community and social services in NSW, the potential for collaborative partnerships between these organisations and the philanthropic and business sectors is almost limitless.She says the NSW Government has recognised this great potential for cross-sector collaboration to make a significant contribution to the people of NSW; whether through direct financial assistance or donations, or businesses providing in-kind resources or encouraging their employees to volunteer their skills to non-profit organisations.Stewart says that combined with the growing interest in Corporate Social Responsibility in recent years, it is hoped that this new publication will spark further interest in this area.
The NSW edition focuses on philanthropy in NSW and includes a number of articles show casing partnerships between the philanthropic and business sectors, and NSW Government agencies.It provides excellent examples of how government agencies and the philanthropic and corporate sectors can collaborate on projects that contribute in to community and individual wellbeing.One innovative and successful project is the Lawyers Encouraging and Assisting Promising Students! (LEAPS!) mentoring program which has been making a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people in NSW since 2002.
Through this project, which is run through a partnership with the NSW Department of Education and Training and the Sydney legal profession, selected students are partnered with lawyers and other employees of participating firms and meet regularly to discuss career and life goals.

DoCS contributed $16,500 to the cost of producing the special edition. The journal is published by Philanthropy Australia, the national membership and peak organisation for trusts and foundations, and is usually distributed three times a year to its members.An electronic copy of the journal is available at www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au

How to give to your community

The new Giving Bikes page is just the latest in a series of improvements made to the Australian Giving Centre, which is supported by our alliance partner Westpac. The Giving Centre now has information on just about everything you need to know when it comes to giving to your community: from giving money and time, to giving organs and blood, to giving blankets, clothes and furniture, land, computers, and mobile phones. It’s
online at www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving

Nine Steps of Planning in your organisation

Nine Steps of Planning in your Organisation

Even though everyone in your organisation may be fairly aware of what is to be achieved, and what your organisational goals are, the goal-setting, planning process is useful to focus awareness on the aims and processes and to ensure that everyone knows exactly what their roles are. These steps can also be used in any decision-making situation, or any problem solving session.Planning, must, however, never stop. It is constantly adapting to new situations.1. Assess the situation2. Select objectives and strategies to realize objectives. 3. Develop action plans for entire long-range plan4. Develop detailed action plans for current year5. Establish a way to monitor activities and insure feedback (reporting).6. Develop a budget and implement ways to meet funding requirements.7. Measure performance; analyse feedback; compare progress with plan.8. Act on findings: give green light to successful activities, take corrective action when needed.9. Signoff on completed plans - abandon ones not achieving your objective or when the objective changes (as they do).

Leadership Success Tip

No person will ever be a great leader who does not take genuine joy in the success of those with whom they serve.

Fundraising - is hand-written best?

Steve Hitchcock discusses whether hand-written addresses on the outer envelope and hand-written notes inside are worth the expense and bother:
"Almost all of the organizations we work with at Mal Warwick & Associates are using some form of hand-written mailings. The percentage of donors who respond to these mailings is very high -- two, three, or even four times as high as in response to conventional lasered or printed appeals. These hand-written appeals -- which cost two, three, or four times as much as a standard appeal – are ….  Read on

The WHODO

The WHODO

Before you walk into a meeting, send an email or start a call, take a minute to think about what you want to achieve.1. WHO are you talking to? This is the decider, your prospect, the person who, by direct action, can get you the result that you want.2. What do you want that person to DO? This is your call to action – the single, specific action you want him to take.

Meeting success tip

Before you go ahead with your meeting, ask "Is this meeting necessary?"  Look at alternatives in terms of cost effectiveness, what need is to be filled, more effective formats, levels of accountability and the possibility of using policy or procedure checklists instead.