Today, the Greater Fort Worth Chapter of NACBA is conducting a workshop for its members and Phill Martin, Deputy CEO of NACBA, will facilitate the dialogue. “Trust and Betrayal in Staff Teams” is the title of the workshop. Building trust and loyalty within an organization provide essential foundations of success in providing missional programs to the public. Everyone on the same page, working completely together, for the mission of the organization.

According to Steven Covey’s book The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, trust means confidence. The following 13 behaviors either build or erode trust: Read the rest of this entry »

Case law has defined the responsibilities of tax-exempt boards. Normally referred to as the 3D’s (duty of care, duty of loyalty and duty of obedience), the board’s actions primarily are centered on organizational oversight and policy setting. The chief executive is responsbility for managing the organization’s operations and resources. If the board oversteps and becomes too involved in operations, the organization’s executive management may become stiffled or feel threatened. If the chief executive does not openly communicate critical issues to the board, the board becomes apprehensive that resources and mission may be at risk.

So what is the solution?

Each party (board and chief executive) must understand their missional roles and responsibilities. Governance is the exercise and assignment of power and authority. Boards have a unique opportunity to partner with the chief executive in missional objectives.

Think about the following if, then statements: Read the rest of this entry »

“Success seems to be connected with action.  Successful people keep moving.  They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”  Conrad Hilton, Hotel Executive
Qualities leaders possess that enable them to make things happen:
1. They know what they want
2. They push themselves to act
3. They take more risks
4. They make more mistakes - and don’t let it bother them
How to improve YOUR initiative?
1. Change your mindset – “If you lack initiative realize the problem comes from inside yourself, not others.  Find the source of your hesitation and address it.”
2. Don’t wait for opportunity to knock – be proactive
3. Take the next step – do something about it!
Above information derived from John C. Maxwell’s “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader”, Chapter 10.

According to John Maxwell’s book, 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, effective leaders know they must have focus to succeed. The keys are priorities and concentration. A leader who knows his priorities but lacks concentration knows what to do but never gets it done. If he has concentration but no priorities, he has excellence without progress. But when he harnesses both he has the potential to achieve great things.
Focus 70% on strengths – identify 3-4 things you do well and spend 70% of your time on those things.
Focus 25% on new things – what do you need to get to the next level in your main area of strength?
Focus 5% on areas of weakness -Identify 3-4 things your job requires but you don’t do well, delegate. How do you focus?