re energizing board and staff

DO I SMELL SMOKE ? ? ?

Re-Energizing Your Board and Staff

12011 Jean Block Consulting, Inc.

Presented by Jean Block

Jean Block Consulting, Inc./Social Enterprise Ventures, LLC

More than 45 years as Board and Staff leader for local,

regional and national nonprofits.

Author: Fast Fundraising Facts for Fame & Fortune

The ABCs of Building Better Boards

www.jblockinc.com

www.socialenterpriseventures.com

jean@jblockinc.com

505.899.1520

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Let’s Talk About Burn Out

•Is the Board Room Getting Smoky?

•Is Smoke Curling Around the Staff Break

Room?

•Do You Need Some New Energy and

Enthusiasm?

•Are You Having FUN?

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Recognizing Burn Out

In the Board

Low or spotty attendance at Board meetings.

Lack of a quorum.

Lack of follow through.

Lack of vision and planning.

Individualism – personal agendas.

Disengagement…disinterest…

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Recognizing Burn Out

In the Staff

Absenteeism.

Excuses. Complaints.

Passive attitudes…”I can’t, It doesn’t matter, etc.”

“Circle the Wagons” mentality.

Boredom.

“But we’ve always done it that way.”

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Motivated vs. Unmotivated?

Which Do You Want for Your Organization?

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Motivated vs. Unmotivated

Motivated: active, energized, curious, engaged, creative,

responsive.

Unmotivated: passive, mechanical, disinterested, disengaged.

Motivated: make better, faster, more creative decisions.

Unmotivated: avoid making decisions, rely on others to make

decisions for them, repeat decisions made in the past.

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Motivated vs. Unmotivated

Motivated: anticipate problems, are ready with a plan, follow

through.

Unmotivated: don’t think ahead, don’t follow up.

Motivated: show initiative, care.

Unmotivated: don’t, don’t don’t…

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Closer to Home …

What Do You See in Your

Organization?

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Question: Can You Motivate Someone?

Definition: Motivation is an inner urge that

prompts or moves a person to action.

It Comes from within.

We cannot actually motivate anyone, but we can

create motivating environments and

opportunities.

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10 Ideas to

Re-Energize Your

Board

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#1…

Re-Invest in Mission and Purpose

Tour of agency and facilities.

Client presentation at Board meetings.

Mission printed on all meeting agendas.

Statistics, outcomes, accomplishments at every meeting.

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#2 …

Ask and Listen

Why are you on the Board?

What do you want to accomplish?

How can we engage you and your talents more

effectively?

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#3 …

Get on the Same Page

Recruit effectively and honestly (Time, Talent, Treasure).

Job description (sample at www.jblockinc.com).

Provide orientation to the agency, the roles and

responsibilities…repeat snippits often.

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#4 …

Put the Pieces Together

Annual planning retreat to set annual goals.

Report on accomplishments at every Board meeting.

Hold accountable.

Have a purpose for meetings!

Communicate, communicate, communicate in a variety

of ways as often as possible.

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#5 …

Value Board Member’s Time at Meetings

Start meetings on time.

Send materials in advance.

Consider a consent agenda to minimize time.

Require written committee reports…no droning on and

on…keep committee work in committees.

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#6 …

Value and Appreciate

Thank regularly and often.

Personalize it!

Print it (newsletter, newspaper, web site, etc.)

Thank their supporters (secretary, family, dog).

Feature “Board Member of the Month”.

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#7 …

Bless and Release

Annual commitment letter (sample at

www.jblockinc.com).

Guilt-free exit!

Re-assign to new opportunity.

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#8 …

Have fun

Social events.

Include family, clients, staff, etc.

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#9 and #10…

Model the Behavior You Expect from

Your Board!

Have Fun! Be Inspired! Be Motivated!

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10 Ideas to

Re-Energize Your

Staff

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#1 …

Provide Ongoing Opportunities for Growth

Identify and involve in special projects.

Training opportunities (themselves and for others).

Temporary changes with other shifts, departments.

Invite civic groups to meet at your office so employees

can attend.

“Sell” their skills to other departments for short-term

assignments.

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#2 …

Give Employees a Sense of Purpose

People are motivated when they feel that they are part

of something larger than their specific jobs.

Share budget, financials, etc. across all departments.

Involve employees with managers on problem-solving

teams.

Give employees opportunities to chair meetings.

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#3 …

Involve Employees in the Mission

Hold monthly/quarterly meetings with staff and

management to discuss current status, plans for future,

triumphs/issues, Q&A’s; criticism, suggestions, discussion

encouraged.

Ask staff to develop mission statements for their

department/job.

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#4 …

Recognize Employees

Acknowledgement and appreciation are top motivators of employee performance.

Circulate, talk, listen, acknowledge accomplishments as they occur.

Write thank you notes to employees.

Names tags with years of service.

Make copies of client raves; send with notes of appreciation.

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#5 …

Develop Ownership and Goals

Develop goals with each employee; let them decide

how they will be accomplished.

Emphasize how these goals contribute to the larger

organization.

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#6 …

Appreciate Employees

Pads of colored paper printed with heading “Notes to

My Terrific Team Mate”; encourage staff to surprise

one another with acknowledgements. Post on

office/cubicle walls.

Create 2-part thank you notes: part 1 goes to

employee; part 2 enters quarterly raffle for gift

certificates.

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#7 …

Recognize Accomplishment

Send email blast to entire organization asking

everyone to applaud (literally) the achievements of an

individual or unit at a specific time. At the appointed

hour, clapping resounds throughout building.

Someone runs up and down the halls ringing a bell,

blowing a kazoo or noise maker; everyone comes

running; announcement of achievement; congratulations

and celebration.

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More #7 …

Name a sandwich in the cafeteria, an event, something after an employee for a month.

Assign the perfect parking spot (marked with employee name) for a month.

Use newsletters to: invite staff to praise other staff, feature stories on employees, include bios of employees.

Create a Hall of Fame wall with photos of high performing employees.

Create photo albums showing the progress of projects and all participating members.

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#8 …

Bless and Release

Encourage employees to follow their dreams (even if it

isn’t with your agency).

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#9 and #10 …

HAVE FUN!

Model the Behavior You Expect from

Your Employees!

Have Fun! Be Inspired! Be Motivated!

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Thanks…

Thanks to Cate Cardwell

WonderOrganizations, Inc.

for some of these great ideas.

www.wonderorganizations.com

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More Thanks …

Thanks for all you are doing to improve the lives of

those most vulnerable!

How can I help you?

Contact me: jean@jblockinc.com

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