Sharon Mikrut Articles
Top 11 Ground Rules for Conducting a Strategic Planning Session - Click To Read Article
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.
Preparing for the Strategic Planning Retreat - A Checklist - Click To Read Article
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.
Top Five Responsibilities of Nonprofit Board Members - Click To Read Article
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.
Battling the Bully - Standing Up for Yourself with Confidence and Assertiveness - Click To Read Article
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.
Board Member Job Descriptions - Which Roles and Responsibilities Should You Include? - Click To Read Article
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.
Seven Items To Consider When Interviewing Potential Staff Members - Click To Read Article
Do you put a lot of effort into interviewing candidates for a position yet end up with those you hire leaving the organization within a few months or year? In the nonprofit field, most organizations have limited budgets, often resulting in lower salaries and a high turnover in staff members. If you want to attract qualified individuals whose primary focus is on people and human service oriented work versus a higher salary, I have found there are certain steps supervisors should take when interviewing potential candidates. The following article identifies my top seven items to consider during the interview process, to ensure you identify the most qualified applicants.
If Happiness Is A Choice, How Can You Create It? - Click To Read Article
Is happiness a choice? If so, how can you be happy? This article provides some steps you can take to achieve happiness.
Think Big, Start Small! Take Your First Step Towards Achieving Your Goals Today - Click To Read Article
Do you have a goal you want to achieve but are feeling overwhelmed or stuck, and not sure how to proceed? If so, this article provides the basic steps you can take to break your goal down into easy, manageable steps, making goal achievement possible and easier.
Time Management Making The Most Out Of Your Busy Day - Click To Read Article
Do you feel you never have enough time in the day to do the things you need to do? Do you feel that the day flies by and you never have time for yourself? This article provides some useful steps to help you meet your daily priorities yet find time for yourself.
Empowerment Taking Control Of Your Life - Click To Read Article
Do you feel powerless? Do you feel that others control your life? If you answered yes and you are ready to take control of your life, here are some steps you can start taking today to become empowered and the master of your life.
Stress The Silent Threat - Click To Read Article
Although some stress is normal, chronic stress can cause a myriad of problems, ranging from headaches, skin rashes, and high blood pressure to sleep disturbances, burnout, and depression. This article contains a list of ten things you can do to decrease your stress level.
10 Ways To Operate From Your Highest Level Of Integrity - Click To Read Article
Have you ever wondered what makes someone have a high degree of integrity? Do you notice that people with integrity are generally more respected and successful? This article highlights ten attributes that individuals need to possess to operate from their highest level of integrity.
The Top 11 Organizing Tips For A More Efficient Life - Click To Read Article
Are you one of those people who spend hours looking for an item, wasting precious time and energy? Do you get frustrated when you cant locate an item and find yourself at the store spending money to buy something you know you already possess? Are you ready to take that first step to organize your home and/or office, resulting in a more efficient life? If so, then this article is just what you need.
Top 12 Attributes Of Effective Leaders - Click To Read Article
Have you ever wondered why some people make great leaders yet others fail at it? I believe that effective leaders share a common set of attributes. This article identifies 12 attributes I feel best exemplify great leaders. Do you possess any or all of these attributes?
Top Eight Items To Consider When Recruiting New Staff Members - Click To Read Article
Are you having difficulty in recruiting qualified staff members? In the nonprofit field, organizations generally have limited budgets. This can result in lower salaries and a high turnover in staff members. If you want to attract qualified individuals whose primary focus is on people and human service oriented work versus a higher salary, I have found there are certain steps supervisors should take prior to beginning their recruitment efforts. The following article identifies my top eight items to consider when recruiting potential candidates.
How To Develop Clear Objectives That Work Every Time - Click To Read Article
Whether you are developing goals and objectives for a grant application, during a strategic planning process, or for your staff members or team, it is critical to create goals and objectives that are easy to understand and implement. This article highlights four items to consider when developing goals and objectives.
Remembering The Three W's Of Recruiting Board Members - Click To Read Article
The success of nonprofit organizations is contingent on many factors, including the recruitment and development of board members who are committed to helping the organization accomplish its mission. This article provides a tool for recruiting board members who are in the best position to aid the organization.
Helpful Tips For Training New Staff Members - Click To Read Article
When you hire staff, your intention is to retain them. Providing them with the appropriate training will decrease their learning curve and increase their chance for success. This article provides some helpful tips for orienting and training new staff members.
What To Include In Personnel Files For New Staff Members - Click To Read Article
To protect themselves as well as their new hires, employers must ensure that personnel files contain all documents required by the federal government and by their respective organization. This article provides a list of items that should be included in a personnel file.
Retaining Employees Protecting Your Most Important Asset - Click To Read Article
Developing and maintaining an employee retention program demonstrates that you value your employees and want them to succeed. They will be happier, look forward to coming to work, and want to remain with the organization. Satisfied employees are more committed and loyal, resulting in a productive work environment. This article provides helpful tips on how to retain your employees, your most important asset.
Six Steps To Creating More Productive Staff Performance Evaluations - Click To Read Article
Conducting a performance review can be difficult, for both the employer and employee. However, done correctly, the review process can be productive and key to employee retention. This article provides some helpful tips related to preparing for and conducting effective staff performance evaluations.
Are You Hearing What Im Saying? 10 Tips That Will Help You Improve Your Listening - Click To Read Article
Ernest Hemingway once said "When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen." How true that is. How many times has someone asked you how you were, but doesn't take the time to listen to your response? They may cut you off, start talking about themselves, or walk away. If you're like most people, this behavior probably leaves a sour taste in your mouth. People want to be heard and listened to; they want to feel like someone cares. If you find that your listening skills are poor or need tweaking, this article provides tips on how to be a better listener.
Employee Disciplinary Action - Steps You Can Take To Protect Yourself and Your Nonprofit Organization - Click To Read Article
Disciplining employees can be time consuming, difficult, and challenging. However, if you want the disciplinary action process to go as smoothly as possible, it is important to develop clear policies and procedures that will result in a strong disciplinary action program. By having a solid program in place, it will help to protect you and your organization. This article provides some steps you can take to develop and implement an exemplary disciplinary action program.
Branding Your Nonprofit's Mission - Six Items To Consider Before You Start - Click To Read Article
Nonprofit organizations have a myriad of issues they need to deal with on a daily basis, leaving them with little time to focus on branding their mission and organization. However, it is important that they allocate some time and money to branding, as good branding will establish a solid identify, making it easier for clients and stakeholders to recognize and grasp the organization's mission. In addition, recognition helps organizations to solicit clients, raise funds, and improve collaborative relationships. This article provides six items to consider in branding your organization.
Collaboration in The Nonprofit Community- The Many Benefits Of Working Together - Click To Read Article
Collaboration is a process where two or more parties get together to work on common goals. The advantages of collaboration are numerous, and they benefit all parties involved. Collaboration helps organizations save time and money, and provide quality services to their clients. This article lists what I feel are the major advantages of collaborating with your colleagues.
Where Are You In Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs? - Click To Read Article
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.
Using Your Nonprofit Organization's Newsletter To Generate Revenue - Click To Read Article
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.
Using Your Nonprofit Organization's Website To Generate Revenue - Click To Read Article
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.
What You Should Consider Before Entering Into A Collaborative Agreement - Click To Read Article
Collaborative efforts with other agencies are valuable and can have many advantages. However, there are some items you need to consider prior to entering into any type of collaborative relationship. You'll want to ensure that when you enter into a collaborative relationship, it is a win-win situation for your clients, your organization, other stakeholders, and for your collaborative partner. This article addresses some questions you need to ask and issues you need to consider before establishing a collaborative relationship.
Is Attitude Gratitude Or Is Gratitude Attitude? - Click To Read Article
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.
Assessing Your Nonprofit's Culture - Seven Questions To Ponder - Click To Read Article
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.
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