Are You Suffering From Administrative Drag?
Every business requires some administration. However, too much administration introduces operational or business drag. Businesses have a tendency to become too comfortable with over-administration, and it’s often the consumer who suffers.
Being First
It’s clear that the world is once again in the midst of sea change in how we use technology, so much so that making the case is a waste of time. Instead, the real question is, what are you going to do about it? Volatility is frightening and must be approached carefully, but making bold moves during times like these is how fortunes are made.
Your Business and the Oxygen Paradox
Everyone knows oxygen is essential for most life forms, but few realize that our dependence on it is a relic of a long-ago biological apocalypse. Oxygen is a zealous and highly reactive gas, interacting with many different molecules, stripping electrons, and damaging DNA. Your cells produce free radicals as a byproduct of cellular respiration, and there are many indications that oxygen is a significant factor in aging. The only reason the oxygenated atmosphere doesn’t wreak absolute carnage on your body is a series of mechanisms that function round the clock to mitigate the damage. The duality of oxygen, life bringer and life destroyer, is called the Oxygen Paradox, and it has immense implications for your business.
Fighter Pilots, Company Dashboards, And The OODA Loop
The world of business has undergone significant changes in the last 30 years. Most notably, the speed of business has accelerated dramatically, making the traditional paradigm inadequate for the rapid reactions businesses need to stay competitive. Making high-speed decisions has become a discipline in itself, and no one does this better than the Air Force.
Colonel John Boyd of the USAF described the decision-making process in a dogfight as a recurring “Loop,” which he coined the “OODA Loop.” The acronym OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. In essence, it involves observing a situation, orienting oneself to potential solutions, making a decision, and then taking action. The process then repeats. Having a small OODA loop means making decisions quickly, while a wide or large OODA loop indicates taking excessively long to decide. The goal is to “get inside” your opponent’s OODA loop. By making decisions faster, you cause your enemy to fall behind, reacting to decisions and actions you made cycles ago, thereby losing the initiative and enabling you to maneuver for the kill.
Get a Fresh Pair of Eyes
Nonprofits have a tendency to become stagnant and insular in terms of culture. Much of this is inherent to the industry. Managers are promoted from within, while nonprofit boards and other oversight make change difficult and reforms sluggish. The lack of “competition” per se can reduce the urgency to adapt. While a nonprofit’s culture can be a strength, institutional inertia is lethal to organizations.
Getting Ready to Scale Your Non-Profit
There are several reasons why non-profits should consider the benefits of scaling, even if they don’t have immediate plans to do so. Scaling can be a planned process, but it can also happen unexpectedly. Sometimes, the mission of the organization requires a larger structure, while other times, fluctuations in funding necessitate downsizing. In either case, it is essential for your organization to prepare in advance for scaling up or down. One effective approach is to strategically utilize contractors in your administration, which can significantly aid this process.
Hiring Vs Contracting IT In The 2020s
Dedicated employees on the payroll are not going away anytime soon. Many roles require full-time personnel in your non-profit organization, particularly mission-facing jobs. However, the nature of the market and the development of technology mean that having a dedicated employee on staff can often be more expensive in terms of time and money than it might be worth.
The Way We Work Is Broken
Nonprofits are facing unprecedented challenges in today’s economy, from limited resources to increasing demand for their services. As a result, many are turning to staffing solutions like employees, hourly contractors, recruiters, and freelancers to fill operational roles and responsibilities. However, each of these solutions has its own pitfalls that can ultimately hinder a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its goals.
Can You Honestly Tell Your Donors You Know How You’re Doing?
Can You Honestly Tell Your Donors You Know How You’re Doing? Nonprofits are constantly seeking ways to improve their effectiveness and demonstrate the impact of
There’s A Story Behind Every Number
Storytelling is a powerful tool for nonprofit fundraising. By sharing stories of how their work has impacted individuals and communities, nonprofits can connect with donors on a personal level and inspire them to give. But telling stories isn’t just about creating an emotional connection – it’s also about demonstrating impact.
Get Ahead of Runaway Inflation
Nonprofits are facing unprecedented challenges in today’s record inflation environment. From rising costs of goods and services to the ever-increasing competition for donor dollars, it can be tough for nonprofits to keep up. But there is hope – with the right partner, nonprofits can navigate these challenges and continue to thrive.
What Do The Numbers In This Boardbook Mean?
As donors and philanthropists, we want to know that the organizations we support are making a real impact on the issues we care about. But all too often, it can be hard to get a clear sense of what’s really going on in these organizations. With so many programs and initiatives, so many data points to track, and so many reports to sift through, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and confused.
Coping With the Great Resignation
We are in the midst of the “Great Resignation,” a phenomenon where employees have been quitting their jobs at elevated levels since the beginning of the pandemic. Furthermore, the new trend known as “soft” or “quiet” quitting, where employees only do enough of their tasks to avoid being fired, has come to the forefront.
Hold Your Employees – And Yourself – Accountable
In nonprofits, measuring organizational success based on revenue alone is not enough. The ultimate measure of success is impact. But how can we effectively measure the impact of our employees?
The Cloud Advantage
The Cloud Advantage Cloud technology, the on-demand availability of computing and storage resources, has become an essential tool for nonprofits striving to succeed in today’s
The Power of Narrative
Five Signs You May Need To Outsource Your Non-Profit Administrative Work Using data is vital to attract, cultivate, and retain donors. But oftentimes, even important
Five Signs You May Need To Outsource Your Non-Profit Administrative Work
Five Signs You May Need To Outsource Your Non-Profit Administrative Work If you’re wondering whether outsourcing your administrative tasks could be right for your non-profit