Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership

016: 4 Writing Practices for Nonprofit Success (Clay Hodges)SUMMARYThe concept of writing might not be an activity that brings back pleasant memories (late-night term papers anyone?), but as attorney Clay Hodges illustrates, it is a powerful tool to activate in your productivity toolbox.  In this episode of the Path, Clay and I explore four different writing rituals and routines that can help you build skills for professional development and more effective communication.  How can you utilize journaling to monitor personal and professional progress? How can you improve your technical and persuasive writing abilities? How can you use writing to distill knowledge in an age of information overload?  Find out more in this episode, and how Clay has developed the discipline and focus required to be a consistently effective writer and communicator.ABOUT CLAYClay Hodges is a partner at the law firm Harris Sarratt & Hodges, LLP, and represents clients in personal injury cases with a focus on medical device and failed drug litigation. He graduated with honors from UNC Chapel Hill in 1990, where he wrote his undergraduate honors thesis on the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Supreme Court case. He earned a master’s degree in literature and received his JD from the UNC School of Law, where he won the Gressman-Pollitt Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy. He’s been recognized as a North Carolina Super Lawyer, is a member of the 2003-2005 class of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, and has served as Chair of his Rotary Club’s scholarship committee.  He has also taught law in the graduate studies program at Meredith College.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESWriting for Self-Care: journaling/therapy, affirmations, charting habitsWriting to Distill/Acquire Knowledge: book reports, memo summariesWriting to Goal-Set/Plan: weekly ritual, quarterly review, annual goalsWriting to Communicate & Produce Content: blog posts, articles, books Dan Harris’ book 10% HappierCal Newport’s book Deep WorkClay’s website and blog

015: Personal Branding for the Nonprofit Professional (Yvonne Levine)SUMMARYWhat is Personal Branding, and why is it important for you as a nonprofit professional?  That’s exactly what Yvonne Levine and I discussed in this episode of the Path.  Yvonne’s great coaching and consulting experience with different organizations - and their senior leaders - provides many useful take-aways for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders who want to engage in genuine activities to build their positive brand.   Among other things, we talk about when to begin crafting your personal brand, and the many things to consider beyond just your resume.  In addition to the digital elements of your brand, her advice certainly addresses the chances you’ll have to make presentations and speeches, and how to best maximize those opportunities. ABOUT YVONNEYvonne is the president and chief marketing consultant of YGL Enterprises, Inc. and is a results-driven marketer with over 25 years of experience in assisting professional services organizations, small and mid-sized businesses, and other community-related organizations in the development and execution of successful marketing strategies.  Her strengths include strategic planning, branding, content development, community partnerships, creative agency and vendor management, client surveys and focus groups, marketing communications, social media, project management, and corporate sponsorships.  Additionally, Yvonne believes in giving back to her community, where she has served on numerous boards and committees, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the Carolina Raptor Center, GenerationNation, the Mecklenburg Livable Communities Initiative, and the Mecklenburg County Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service Committee. She is a graduate of Leadership Charlotte, Class 31, and a committed volunteer for the Charlotte Humane Society.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESGreat resources and writing at Yvonne’s Blog"A personal brand is a person’s perception of another person, primarily in a business context.""Whether you're a nonprofit or corporate leader, understanding your brand and what you have to offer greatly impacts your influence over others."Molly Barker, Girls on the Run"With the vastness of reach of social media today, you can't ignore that you have to take control of your brand early on.”“There’s a fundamental difference between bragging and clearly articulating one’s unique strength.”Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People

014: Finding Your Nonprofit Leadership Shadow (Will Sparks)SUMMARYWhat is your leadership shadow, and why should you worry about it?  That’s exactly what Dr. Will Sparks and I discuss on this episode of The Path.  He’s spent 20 years researching the characteristics of great leaders, and also the “shadow” side of their leadership styles which often hold them back in ways they’re not even aware.  Will and I explore the practical aspects of his studies, and how nonprofit leaders can amplify their positive qualities but – more importantly – identify specific ways to identify their shadow side and do something about it.   You’ll see how this can not only accelerate your journey on the leadership path, but also create a more dynamic and productive environment for your staff, board and volunteer colleagues.  ABOUT WILLWill Sparks is the Dennis Thompson Chair & Professor of Leadership at the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, where he also serves as the Director of the Office of Leadership Initiatives. He serves as the Managing Director for William L. Sparks & Associates, LLC, a professional services firm founded in 1997 focused on leader and team development, personal transformation and change management. He has consulted with a variety of international organizations in the public and private sectors. He serves as a Director on the boards of the Dilworth Center in Charlotte, NC, and The Project Appraisal Methodology (PAM) Institute in Washington, DC.  He completed his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Development from The George Washington University’s School of Business and Public Management, where his research focused on group dynamics, organizational culture, and leadership. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESText 362 260 to WILLSPARKS to receive free app with the ALP SurveyWill’s book Actualized LeadershipWill’s Ted Talk "The Power of Self Awareness"Cal Newport’s Deep WorkViktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for MeaningPeter Browning’s The Director’s ManualErich Fromm’s Escape from FreedomStephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Brene’ Brown’s Ted Talk The Power of Vulnerability

#013: Build A 2020 Personal Strategic Plan That Works (Patton McDowell)SummaryWhile the start of a new year often inspires well-intentioned efforts to put a new professional development plan in place, too often the result is a set of vague goals that don’t survive very far into the Spring season.  This episode offers multiple ways you can make your plan more actionable and productive for 2020 and beyond.  This is the third of three episodes in a year-end series that first covered the keys to an effective year-end review (episode #11) and then a second episode that recommended seven professional development books (episode #12) to add to your reading list. Listen to this episode to explore:1. How to effectively Sharpen Your Vision to provide the basis for your 2020 plan2. How to do a self-assessment and Map Your Course with clear milestones3. How to Get in Shape by establishing six routines and rituals These activities will get you beyond setting generalized annual goals, and help you put practical steps in place to accelerate Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.  Interested in a copy of the 10 skills and experiences assessment worksheet? Email me at pm@pattonmcdowell.com.  About PattonPrior to founding PMA Consulting in 2009, Patton served as Vice President for University Advancement at Queens University of Charlotte where he was responsible for all fundraising, communications, and alumni programs for the university.  Before Queens, Patton served as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at UNC Wilmington, where he was the youngest vice chancellor in the 16- campus UNC system.  He previously served as Program Director for Special Olympics North Carolina in Raleigh, following his tenure with Special Olympics International in Washington, D.C.  He is a native of Elizabeth City, NC, and received a bachelor’s degree in English Education from UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar.  He received his MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens, and his Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.  He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a Master Trainer for AFP International, and a member of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations.  Patton is a former board president of AFP Charlotte and served as the Chapter Representative on the AFP International Board.  He also serves as the Lead Faculty Member for the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership and both of its signature programs: New Development Director Training and Leadership Gift School.  Patton and his wife Cindy have three adult children.

#012: 7 Professional Development Books for Your 2020 Reading List (Patton McDowell)This is the second episode in a three-part series focused on an effective year-end review and an actionable personal strategic plan for the year ahead.  Many goal setting exercises include an effort to read more on professional development topics, and this episode recommends seven books that correspond with each “stop” on Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Listen to hear summaries of the following outstanding resources:1. As you Sharpen Your Vision, read Carol Dweck’s Mindset2. To help you Map Your Course, read Brian Moran’s The 12 Week Year3. As you Get in Shape, read Loehr & Schwartz’ The Power of Full Engagement 4. To better Curate Knowledge, read Cal Newport’s Deep Work5. To better Express Yourself, read Paul Smith's The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell6. As you Build Community, read Susan Cain’s Quiet7. To Practice Leadership, read Marshall Goldsmith’s What Got You Here Won’t Get You ThereAbout PattonPrior to founding PMA Consulting in 2009, Patton served as Vice President for University Advancement at Queens University of Charlotte where he was responsible for all fundraising, communications, and alumni programs for the university.  Before Queens, Patton served as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at UNC Wilmington, where he was the youngest vice chancellor in the 16- campus UNC system. Patton is a former board president of AFP Charlotte and served as the Chapter Representative on the AFP International Board.  He also serves as the Lead Faculty Member for the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership and both of its signature programs: New Development Director Training and Leadership Gift School.  Patton and his wife Cindy have three adult children.

#011: Planning for 2020? Start With These 4 Year-End Exercises to Close Out 2019 First (Patton McDowell)SummaryWhile it’s hard not to look ahead to a new year (and a new decade) in 2020, this episode of the Path reminds us that a good annual review process helps clarify and sharpen your focus for the year ahead. Patton outlines four distinct exercises that will help guide your review in a way that goes further than simply answering whether you achieved your goals or not.  This special episode - and the first in a mini-series - provides practical advice that can jump start your planning process, no matter what time of year you choose to tackle it.  Listen to this episode to explore:1. Three levels of a strategic calendar review2.  A qualitative review of your top accomplishments and challenges, and then an assessment of the six key rituals and routines3. A targeted decluttering exercise (no, it’s not great fun, but worth it)4. Recapturing the year’s professional development content for actionThese activities will get you beyond setting vague annual goals, and help you put practical steps in place to accelerate Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.  Hit subscribe, and accelerate your journey on a nonprofit career path that can change your life!About PattonPrior to founding PMA Consulting in 2009, Patton served as Vice President for University Advancement at Queens University of Charlotte where he was responsible for all fundraising, communications, and alumni programs for the university.  Before Queens, Patton served as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at UNC Wilmington, where he was the youngest vice chancellor in the 16- campus UNC system.  He previously served as Program Director for Special Olympics North Carolina in Raleigh, following his tenure with Special Olympics International in Washington, D.C.  He is a native of Elizabeth City, NC, and received a bachelor’s degree in English Education from UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar.  He received his MBA from the McColl School of Business at Queens, and his Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.  He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), a Master Trainer for AFP International, and a member of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations.  Patton is a former board president of AFP Charlotte and served as the Chapter Representative on the AFP International Board.  He also serves as the Lead Faculty Member for the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership and both of its signature programs: New Development Director Training and Leadership Gift School.  Patton and his wife Cindy have three adult children.

010: Overcoming 3 Barriers to Nonprofit Leadership Success (Karen Mitchell)SUMMARYDr. Karen Mitchell has seen too many talented professionals who, despite great potential, do not achieve the kind of leadership success they deserve.  What are the barriers that prevent this ultimate success?  That is exactly what Karen and I discuss on this episode, particularly the three skills in particular that if mastered, can help accelerate leadership opportunities.  The first thing we discuss is the ability to project executive presence.  What is it, and how can you get better?  We then discus the ability to deliver presentations that inspire, which is certainly a skill that benefits anyone trying to better articulate the mission of their nonprofit.  Finally, we talk about the nuances of managing a team, whether that be one that is small or large, or comprised of volunteers or paid staff. Karen also shares some great resources and will add some good books to your library as well.ABOUT KARENKaren’s coaching and consulting practice, Cottage Insights, creates opportunities for personal and professional development and growth. Early in her career, she was in the nonprofit world, working at Conservation International in Washington, D.C., and then in Kansas City, she worked for Union Station Kansas City, a nonprofit housed in a historic train station with museums and traveling exhibits.  She’s also spent the last 14 years on the faculty at Elizabethtown College, a non-profit institution in central Pennsylvania, and is currently teaching in their graduate program on Strategic Leadership. Previously at the college, she worked with their Social Enterprise Institute and helped several social enterprises develop programs. Karen holds a B.A. in English and Economics from the University of Mary Washington, an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Kansas, and her Doctorate in Education at the University of Southern California.   Learn more about Karen here, and check out her website to learn more about her coaching and consulting.  EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESKaren’s productivity: daily/weekly lists, notebooks, and even a binderAmy Jen Su & Muriel Wilkins’ book Own the RoomNancy Duarte’s TED Talk on The Secret Structure of Great TalksMaking a PechaKucha presentationMelinda Gates’ book The Moment of LiftAdam Grant’s book Give and TakeGordon MacKenzie’s book Orbiting the Giant Hairball

009: Do You Have A Nonprofit Talent Management Strategy? (Karen Geiger)SUMMARYWhat is talent management, and why is it important?  Dr. Karen Geiger has worked with dozens of organizations and has seen what makes successful ones work, and what individual leaders can do to advance their career and the organizations they lead. Karen is a teacher and trainer at heart and combines personal experiences as well as those she’s had within the corporate, education and nonprofit sectors to offer wise counsel for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders.  We discussed the factors that influence an individual’s nonprofit career journey and zeroed in on the board’s role in defining leadership positions for their organization. As Karen notes, many organizations use “best practices” as a proxy for their talent management plan, but these best practices are simply a proxy for “that’s the way we’ve always done things.” She explains some of the unique challenges a nonprofit leader faces by not working for a single boss, but often a dozen or more board-member bosses (who then rotate every year!). Finally, she shares a number of resources that can help you evaluate what you’re looking for on your nonprofit career path, and how you can best advance into leadership roles.ABOUT KARENAs a private consultant, Karen designs and conducts leadership experiences, and supports diversity/inclusion and race privilege awareness through group facilitation, one-on-one coaching and 360-degree feedback. Her client companies include those in financial services, medicine, non-profit organizations, and city-county governments. She is a member of the International Leadership Association; and is certified by the Harvard Program on Negotiation, Wiley behavioral profiles, and the Center for Creative Leadership in assessments and simulations. Karen holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Rochester, an M.S. in Education from Indiana University and a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. She is President of Karen Geiger & Associates, Inc, a consulting firm she founded in 1992 specializing in talent and organizational development. Before starting her own business, Karen was a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, where she held positions as Director of Corporate Training and Development, Director of Career Planning and Director of Work/Family Programs. Learn more about Karen here, and check out her website to learn more about her coaching and consulting.  EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES·               Karen’s productivity: calendar-driven to-do lists and time blocking·               The board’s role in defining leadership expectations·               Brian Tracy’s Eat That Frog! book·               Ram Charan’s The Leadership Pipeline book·               Marcus Buckingham YouTube How to Succeed at Work·               Lahey & Kegan’s How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work book

008: Leadership Lessons & Telling Your Nonprofit Story (Don Jonas)SUMMARYDon Jonas knows that the key to effectiveness in the nonprofit realm is being able to explain the good work you are doing.  He has always been a student of nonprofit leadership, and we had a great conversation about communication strategies, mindfulness/wellness techniques, and leadership lessons he’s learned during his career.  We discussed the factors that influenced his career path and the lateral entry into the nonprofit sector after early aspirations to become a college professor!  Dr. Jonas offers great advice he’s gathered during each stage of his career, and he also shares excellent resources for your continuing pursuit of professional development.  Finally, he makes a compelling case about how to better articulate the good work your nonprofit is doing through more content creation and creative methods such as podcasting.  ABOUT DONDon serves as Assistant Vice President of Social Strategy and Impact at Atrium Health. Prior to this, he served as chief executive for one of the oldest and largest health care agencies in the Carolinas, Care Ring, which is based in Charlotte, NC, and helps individuals with limited resources find quality health care.  Don is passionate about building long-term partnerships that accelerate community building and improve lives.  His academic career includes stops at UNC Chapel Hill for his undergraduate degree in Political Science, Appalachian State University for his Masters in Political Science and Government, and the University of Kentucky for his Ph.D. in Political Science and Government.  His career has included stops at the Hudson Institute, the Foundation For The Carolinas and Novant Health’s Presbyterian Hospital Foundation before his current role leading Care Ring.Learn more about Don here, and check out Care Ring’s Seeking the Heart podcast as you evaluate how your nonprofit can best share the good work it’s doing and elevate the community partnerships you are building.  EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESDon’s productivity: calendar blocking, “think time”, meditationRituals: evening, morning and start-up at workImportance of succession planning for board and staffSimon Sinek’s Start With WhyDon’s excellent blog on applying Sinek’s principles to his nonprofitEvaluating your organization’s communication strategies and tactics Only the Paranoid Survive (Andrew Grove)The Carolina Way - Leadership Lessons  (Dean Smith)Wooden on Leadership (John Wooden)

007: Know Your Numbers: Maximizing Data for Nonprofit Success (Shannon Hinson)SUMMARYWhile emotion plays a part in telling a compelling story about your nonprofit, Shannon Hinson reminds us that knowing your numbers is both a powerful tool to focus your time and energy as well as the best way to assure much greater fundraising success. Shannon and I had a great conversation about many lessons she’s learned after joining the nonprofit sector as a “lateral entry”, and what she believes are the keys to her success as a fundraiser and senior nonprofit leader. She also shares excellent resources you can consult for professional development, and clearly identifies the three data points on which every nonprofit leader should be monitoring to sustain and build financial support. ABOUT SHANNONShannon has more than 20 years of experience in organizational management, marketing, business and fund development.  She joined the nonprofit community from the for-profit arena, working her way from an initial annual fund position to now leading a team of 20 at one of the largest Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the country as its VP of Organizational Advancement & Development.  She is a past Board Chair for the Charlotte Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and currently serves on the board for the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership.  Shannon was also recognized by her peers as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive at the National Philanthropy Day awards in 2018.  She has an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill (Kenan Flagler School of Business) and a BA from UNC Greensboro.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESShannon’s productivity: “project triage” and alignment with the bossHow to make your transferable skills work Critical partnership between marketing and fund developmentKnowing the language of nonprofit – don’t flex your for-profit jargon!AFP Effectiveness studyThe power of annual fund as a foundation for learningWhat is she looking for when making a hire?Adrian Sargeant and the lifetime value of a donorThree key data points: retention, bump-ups, consecutive-year givingDonor Perfect Monthly Donor Metrics ebookPainting the big picture: contributed and earned revenueTraction (Gino Wickman)First 90 Days (Michael Watkins)