Is Your Organization Leaderful? I’m excited to lead a discussion on Leadership Succession Planning for Wegner CPAs Nonprofit Roundtable, in Milwaukee on October 15, and the subject of succession planning has led me to reflect on my past experience as an executive director of five different nonprofits. Unsurprisingly, not one of those organizations had a succession plan in place … Continue reading “Is Your Organization Leaderful?” I’m excited to lead a discussion on Leadership Succession Planning for Wegner CPAs Nonprofit Roundtable, in Milwaukee on October 15, and the subject of succession planning has led me to reflect on my past experience as an executive director of five different nonprofits. Unsurprisingly, not one of those organizations had a succession plan in place before I departed. In one instance, a successor was named before I departed. In another, I was able to help identify an interim executive director before leaving. In all of these situations, my departure was disruptive for the organization, not because I wasn’t replaceable, but because change in leadership is disruptive. Having a plan in place would have lessened that disruption. CompassPoint Nonprofit Services has published many resources on Executive Transition and I have found “Building Leaderful Organizations: Succession Planning for Nonprofits” to be a very informative guide to preparing for the inevitable…leadership transition! Tim Wolfred cites three types of succession plans: 1. Strategic Leader Development 2. Emergency Succession 3. Departure-defined Succession Each of these approaches start with building leadership within the organization. Disruption is minimized when successors come from within the organization. Here are some key questions to gauge how prepared your organization is for leadership transition: 1. Does your organization have a strategic plan that includes staff leadership development? 2. Is the board evaluating the executive annually? Does it understand the scope of the position? 3. Do the executive director direct reports receive evaluations and are they solidly performing? 4. Is the top management team high performing and capable to lead the organization in the absence of the executive? 5. Are key external relationships shared beyond the executive – with either another staff person or board member? 6. Do the organizational financial systems meet industry standards and are reports generated regularly for board and staff? 7. Do operating manuals and personnel policies exist? Are they easily accessible and up to date? 8. Have top program staff documented key duties in writing and identified another staff person to assume duties in an emergency? If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, you are miles ahead of the majority of nonprofits. You can then focus on building the leadership throughout your organization through targeted professional development plans and documented emergency succession plans. If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you have a place to start to build the organization’s capacity for transition. Don’t wait until you or your Executive Director have one foot out the door. Your organization will be in much better shape if you plan for the transition. That is the type of legacy all leaders want to leave. What advice do you have for nonprofits facing a leadership transition?
The Road Signs of Leadership in Action I recently returned from a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. It is an incredible place rich in culture, natural beauty, archeological history, delicious food and fantastic weather. But that isn’t what this blog post is about! My partner Andy and I have spent a lot of time in Latin America during our lives. I think it … Continue reading “The Road Signs of Leadership in Action” I recently returned from a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. It is an incredible place rich in culture, natural beauty, archeological history, delicious food and fantastic weather. But that isn’t what this blog post is about! My partner Andy and I have spent a lot of time in Latin America during our lives. I think it is fair to say that the “rules of the road” and common courtesies that we experience while in our vehicles in the United States generally don’t apply. I would say that more often, it is every driver for him or herself. As a pedestrian, you adjust and prepare for sprinting across the street when it appears the coast is clear, regardless of whether there is a light in your direction or not because that rule doesn’t often apply. If you are a Californian and you are accustomed to stepping off a curb to see all vehicles jam on their brakes to allow you to cross, you need to hit the delete button because that behavior could result in a visit to the hospital. This trip something changed. In fact we noticed as soon as we arrived, cars were following traffic laws, cars were stopping when we crossed the street. We looked at each other and both acknowledged something had changed. We then spoke to an American who had been living in Oaxaca for 10 years and she said, “yes, the city has made a concerted effort to make driving more civilized and it is working.” We asked “How?” She said, “They put up these Yield signs that said, ‘1 x 1, First you then me’.” “First you then me.” – new traffic signs in Oaxaca, Mexico. I saw this sign and watched drivers do just that…..”First you then me.” I thought to myself, “This is leadership right here on the streets of Oaxaca City!” I am a believer in the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. It is easy to remember and it is globally transferable. Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Model the Way: Do what you say you will do and others will follow. Inspire a Shared Vision: Streets where traffic moves smoothly and cars share the road with pedestrians. Challenge the Process: Take initiative to do something innovative like put up new signs. Enable Others to Act: Trust that others will follow if you foster collaboration. This only worked because everyone collaborated. Encourage the Heart: Create the spirit of community, celebrate success. As pedestrians we were thrilled when drivers waved us across the street. Have you seen leadership in action while walking down the street? Share your story!
Calling All Change Makers Vista Global Coaching & Consulting, LLC (VGCC) partners with organizations and individuals to make meaningful change in the world. Whether you are navigating change on a personal, professional or organizational level, VGCC services will guide you to your vision. With over 20 years of experience, Certified Coach and Consultant Mary Stelletello will help you reach your goals. Contact … Continue reading “Calling All Change Makers” Vista Global Coaching & Consulting, LLC (VGCC) partners with organizations and individuals to make meaningful change in the world. Whether you are navigating change on a personal, professional or organizational level, VGCC services will guide you to your vision. With over 20 years of experience, Certified Coach and Consultant Mary Stelletello will help you reach your goals. Contact Mary today to learn how Vista Global Coaching & Consulting is right for you.
How I Developed the Vista Global Vision (and How to Get Started on Yours) When I started my business I wanted to identify a company name that I could use in both English and Spanish so it would be understandable when I worked in Latin America. I wanted to identify a name that conveyed opportunity and expansivenss. After pages of scribbling different words and word combinations, Vista Global emerged. A “global … Continue reading “How I Developed the Vista Global Vision (and How to Get Started on Yours)” When I started my business I wanted to identify a company name that I could use in both English and Spanish so it would be understandable when I worked in Latin America. I wanted to identify a name that conveyed opportunity and expansivenss. After pages of scribbling different words and word combinations, Vista Global emerged. A “global view” and vision of making a difference in the world. It emerged like the sun rising. I love the cycle of the sun, rising to welcome a new day and setting to reflect the beauty of the day that has ended. Vista Global conveys that sense of possibility. As a certified coach with The Coaches Training Institute, I believe that values are the foundation of our success professionally and personally. Research conducted by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner for The Leadership Challenge confirms that when we live and work in alignment with our values we have higher performance, more energy and frankly life is just a lot more fun! Can you identify your top 5 values? Are you living and working in alignment with your values? If you have never thought about your values and what is important to you, here are a few quick tips to get you started on this path toward your greatest potential: 5 Tips for Identifying your Values: 1. Values are who you are. Not who you would like to be, not who you think you should be but who you are in your life right now. 2. Values serve as your compass pointing out what it means to be true to yourself. They are guiding principles of how you live your life. 3. Values are the “non-negotiables” must-haves in your life to be fulfilled (beyond the requirements of food, shelter, etc.). If a value is not being honored, you feel disrupted, off balance, or a sense of things not being “right”. 4. Values are demonstrated in “peak moments” when you are completely in the zone of happiness and fulfillment. What are you doing at that moment? Where are you? Who are you with? 5. Values are uniquely yours and once you have greater clarity of your values you are on your way to living and working in ways that offer your best self to the world! My top 5 values are communication, collaboration, justice, authenticity, and fun. What are your values?
Launching the Vista Global Blog Coaching and Consulting for a better world… I am thrilled to enter the blogosphere to share what I have learned over the past 25 years in the nonprofit sector as a CEO, Program Officer, Consultant and Coach. I look forward to learning from you as well, as we venture toward that horizon of making a … Continue reading “Launching the Vista Global Blog” Coaching and Consulting for a better world… I am thrilled to enter the blogosphere to share what I have learned over the past 25 years in the nonprofit sector as a CEO, Program Officer, Consultant and Coach. I look forward to learning from you as well, as we venture toward that horizon of making a difference in the world.
