Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Top-11-Ground-Rules-for-Conducting-a-Strategic-Planning-Session.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Top-11-Ground-Rules-for-Conducting-a-Strategic-Planning-Session.html Conducting a good strategic planning session is critical to the success of a solid strategic plan; one that includes specific and measurable goals and objectives, providing a clear direction for the organization. To ensure that the actual planning retreat is as productive as it can be, ground rules should be established and discussed prior to commencement. This article provides a list of 11 ground rules I believe are imperative in managing a successful planning retreat. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Preparing-for-the-Strategic-Planning-Retreat--A-Checklist.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Preparing-for-the-Strategic-Planning-Retreat--A-Checklist.html Every nonprofit organization should conduct strategic planning on a regular basis, as strategic plans outline what action steps the organization will take in the future to sustain and grow their operation, while adhering to their mission. Many organizations focus attention on conducting the strategic planning session and developing a plan, but don't allocate sufficient time to prepare for the planning retreat. Taking time to adequately prepare for a strategic planning session can help the actual event to run much more smoothly and efficiently, resulting in greater productivity. This article provides a checklist of items to consider in preparing for your next strategic planning retreat. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Top-Five-Responsibilities-of-Nonprofit-Board-Members.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Top-Five-Responsibilities-of-Nonprofit-Board-Members.html I have seen effective and ineffective boards of directors. Good boards of directors are clear about their roles and responsibilities versus those of the Executive Director, and they don't overstep their boundaries. This article highlights what I consider are the five most important responsibilities of board members. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Board-Member-Job-Descriptions--Which-Roles-and-Responsibilities-Should-You-Include.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Board-Member-Job-Descriptions--Which-Roles-and-Responsibilities-Should-You-Include.html Prior to developing a job description for board members, take time to determine what you expect from them. What roles should they adopt and which tasks, projects, and activities do you want them to be responsible for? This article provides some items you should consider including in board member job descriptions. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Battling-the-Bully--Standing-Up-for-Yourself-with-Confidence-and-Assertiveness.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Battling-the-Bully--Standing-Up-for-Yourself-with-Confidence-and-Assertiveness.html I learned at an early age that if you allow people to bully, harass, or cut you down, then they will do so. If, on the other hand, you make a decision to stand up for yourself and not allow the bully to take control, then s/he will move on to someone or something else. This article provides four steps you can take to battle the bullies in your life, with confidence and assertiveness, once and for all. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Where-Are-You-In-Abraham-Maslows-Hierarchy-Of-Needs.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Where-Are-You-In-Abraham-Maslows-Hierarchy-Of-Needs.html As a social work and psychology student, Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs was a theory in which we focused a great deal of time. According to Maslow, there are five levels of needs, ranging from physiological to self-actualization. It is difficult to move from one level to the next without first meeting your needs at the lower level. If you can identify where you are currently at in the hierarchy, it will give you a better understanding of where you are coming from and what you need to do to reach the fifth and final step, self-actualization. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Using-Your-Nonprofit-Organizations-Website-To-Generate-Revenue.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Using-Your-Nonprofit-Organizations-Website-To-Generate-Revenue.html In the nonprofit field, competition for resources is fierce, forcing nonprofit organizations to look beyond traditional fundraising strategies, such as applying for grants and contracts. Although there are a myriad of ways to raise funds, this article focuses on generating revenue through your organization's website. If you haven't used your website to raise funds, this might be the ideal time to turn it into a revenue generating tool. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Using-Your-Nonprofit-Organizations-Newsletter-To-Generate-Revenue.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Using-Your-Nonprofit-Organizations-Newsletter-To-Generate-Revenue.html Today, as competition for resources is fierce, nonprofits have to look beyond traditional fundraising strategies, such as applying for grants and contracts. Although there are a number of ways to raise funds, the purpose of this article is to focus on generating revenue through your organization's newsletter. If you have a newsletter, but haven't used it to raise funds, this might be the perfect time to turn it into a revenue generating tool. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Assessing-Your-Nonprofits-Culture--Seven-Questions-To-Ponder.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Assessing-Your-Nonprofits-Culture--Seven-Questions-To-Ponder.html Have you ever taken a careful look at the culture of your nonprofit organization? Is the culture positive or negative? Do people enjoy working there, or would they rather be somewhere else? The culture of an organization impacts staff retention, client satisfaction, and the organization's overall effectiveness and success. This article provides seven elements that need to be examined, to help your organization develop and retain a positive, healthy, and thriving culture. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Is-Attitude-Gratitude-Or-Is-Gratitude-Attitude.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Business-Coach/4245/Is-Attitude-Gratitude-Or-Is-Gratitude-Attitude.html I often wonder about whether attitude is gratitude, or if gratitude is attitude. Actually, I think it is both. If your attitude is positive, more than likely you are thankful for everything that you have. And, if you are grateful for what you have, that says a great deal about your attitude. In either case, being grateful is positive, and it can have a huge influence on how you approach life and deal with daily issues. This article provides some tips on embracing gratitude, which will help you to develop and maintain a positive attitude.