Category: Third sector

  • How to crack the secret of winning one-to-ones

    How to crack the secret of winning one-to-ones

    I’ve just seen The Imitation Game. (Great film. Watch a taster here). It’s thought-provoking on so many issues and, of course, stars the brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing the World War Two code-breaker. As for being a lesson in how to motivate people to do amazing things… Well, what can I say? Never have…

  • Email etiquette – ten top tips

    I was chatting with an old colleague last week and she was despairing of her charity’s massive email problem. What she was saying was not new. It seems there is a major epidemic of ’email overwhelm’ breaking out in the third sector. The symptoms? Too many emails flying back and forth, too much time taken…

  • Micro-management? What a turn off

      I’m about to work with a fast expanding third sector organisation where one or two managers are a little too keen to micro-manage their reports. The Chief Exec has identified it’s going on and is keen to help his people find alternatives so that everyone can flourish and grow. I can absolutely see why.…

  • The right way to delegate

    Your in-box is overflowing, you have a million unfinished jobs, there’s a huge deadline looming – so, it’s time to delegate a few bits and bobs, right? Um, no… you may feel marginally better about how much you have to do, but this approach is not a great strategy in the long term. How engaged…

  • Managing your time – summer tips

    The sun is shining. The sky is blue. The birds are singing… And you are sweltering in your office wishing you could be outside..? If so, here are three top tips for getting the most out of our last few weeks of summer.  Make every moment in the office work super hard for you and…

  • The inner game of… tennis

    Unfreakability is the state of having a calm, clear mind which allows you to observe things exactly as they are, and take sensible action. It’s exactly what Andy Murray needs to reach his goal of holding up the Wimbledon trophy on Sunday. It was first used in the book, The Inner Game of Tennis, written…

  • New leaders – how to flourish in your first 90 days

    The first 90 days in a leadership role are important. This is when you create an impact (or not!) and set the tone for the way you’ll be leading in the future. Whether you’re chief executive or team leader, everyone is watching to see how you behave and what you can do. You want to…

  • Life balance – five ways to help your team

    Over-long hours, not quite enough time or money and super dedication to the cause are common in our sector. I’m sure you’ve seen how they can sometimes lead to burned-out, unhappy and stressed people – obviously not good for the individual or the organisation. So, how can you help yourself and your staff find a…

  • Blue Monday – how to avoid it

    It’s Blue Monday today, apparently the most depressing day of the year. I’m not sure I really believe in in – it must be different for everyone, surely…? but here are ten ways to make sure that it’s not blue for you and your third sector colleagues. Some take just twenty seconds but could change…

  • My vision for 2013

    There’s no doubt that 2013 will be a tough year for the third sector. We all know about the 20% fall in donations and that one in six organisations fears closure in 2013 (and not because they are no longer needed.) Yes, it’s going to be a year of struggle, there’s no question. At the…