Bios bring your mission to life:

PROVING THE POINT
Shortly after posting my ideas on the use of people power for driving your organization’s goals, I began an assignment that proved the point perfectly. Interviewing and writing up bios for commercial managers at a major financial institution, I’ve discovered yet again how individual personalities and skills can put a compelling face on the effectiveness and value of an entire enterprise. By clarifying what people do, how they do it, the special expertise and knowledge they bring to their work, and why they love what they are doing – individually and as part of a dedicated team, you prove in the most convincing way possible, that your mission works, and delivers tangible results for the stakeholder.

See below, and contact me at rlhoff@rogers.com.

The brilliance of your people:

TO SERVE, SELL, AND IMPROVE YOUR ORGANIZATION
We’re not all “brilliant” - but we are certainly “people”. And by that, I mean that we are uniquely-informed, shaped-in-the-journey, thinking and perceiving individuals who (whether we know it or not) are the engines, and intimate observers of the organizations, communities and families we belong to.

So putting aside, for now, the software skills, sound business practices and technologies necessary for success in any business or nonprofit today, let’s talk about some persuasive ways you can strengthen your organization by, individually and collectively, bringing your people to the forefront.

Be an educational source –Turn the knowledge and experience of staff, board, suppliers, sponsors and volunteers into learning seminars, panel discussions, presentations and Q&A events for supporters and the people you serve.

Build your story – Find out the real answer to “who you are”, by listening to insiders. They’ll paint a picture of the organization that may surprise you, and add important dimensions to your profile and purpose you hadn’t considered. In fact, you can learn enough from the people on the ground, to grow a more vital and realistic narrative for others to buy into: = stronger services/ enlistment/ funding success.

Evangelize your value – Develop knowledge-exchanges between stakeholders. Provide attention, service and useful information in every contact you make.

Connect with one and many – Share well-written bios, personal stories, tips and expertise in video, voice, e-mails, web pages and print. Invite participation through interactive comments, surveys and voting tools. Learn how to use the latest technologies to do all this – and leverage your potential.

Build your capacity and sustainability – Discover how you can achieve more by using active listening strategies and techniques, to engage the people you work with and serve.


Contact me at rlhoff@rogers.com. I'd be happy to hear from you!

Get it right, before seeking funds:

WHERE DO GOOD STRATEGIES COME FROM?
Organizations succeed for many different reasons. But one critical component is always present: the goal seekers are connected to a clear strategic vision, prepared to achieve, and motivated in their undertaking. Reaching that point requires a series of basic analytical and enlistment steps (check out the quick audio-cast on this site) plus one final measure - too often ignored - before you build your business plan, structure an appeal, or reach out to funders on a personal basis. And it starts with getting the words right!

Have you ever read a mission statement so thick with well-intentioned jargon that you wondered “just what exactly do they do, or want to do?” Well, if readers can’t figure it out, your staff and board, dedicated though they are to the cause, will surely lose their way too: eventually finding divergent routes to interpreting goals and setting organizational priorities - project to project, strategy after strategy, drifting further from the “core of the mission”.

After all the intelligence and effort invested by the founders of your organization, what a shame to encumber it from the onset with words that do not clarify your identity, purpose and value immediately! Here’s my advice. Whether you’re a new nonprofit or have been around for years, it is well worth taking your mission, vision, values to a good writer, who will listen carefully and understand your goals. You’d be surprised what insightful editing can accomplish:

First - You get to revisit your core claims, articulated by an “outside” observer.

Second - By seeing your mission, vision, values in clear language, you will have a fresh chance to evaluate each word and implication, and to ask yourself some tough questions: Is that really what we meant to say? Is this true? Can we do it? Is it too specific in this area? Are we limiting our options for service? Have we gotten across this or that – or should something be eliminated? Do we sound like planners or doers?

Third – Even if the draft is compelling and near perfect, it is inevitable that at least one or more good suggestions will then arise from within your organization. I call it the “inspiration effect”. Clarity breeds clarity, and the collective knowledge of your team will be strongly stimulated. In fact, their feedback can well be critical to the final result.

Fourth – When all is said and done, you will have a powerful group of words defining your organization. And just like the constitution of a government, your words will serve as a standard to test all future strategies, actions, relationships and communications against. Plus as an inspiration for innumerable themes, slogans and appeals along the way!

This is simple to do. It’s inexpensive. And it can pay off for years.

Now that I’ve started “talking about writing”, I look forward to airing some of my other ideas and observations from a 20 year career as writer-strategist, editor and all round design/ creative/ production manager – for print and the web. It’s been an interesting trip and I never cease to be amazed by what I’ve learned from my clients. It would be great to hear your views and experiences too. - rlhoff@rogers.com