Management is neither leadership nor supervision

Last year I was asked to develop online training with separate units on supervision, management and leadership skills. My first (silent) reaction was, “There’s tons already out there.” As I checked out the available training, I discovered that most either combined supervision with management, or management with leadership. But they’re not the same, even though the same person may carry out all three roles.

But did it work? Measuring outcomes of communication and other initiatives

We all want to make a difference; but most of us hope no one will ask us to prove it. Measuring outcomes—or return on investment (ROI)—is key to managing projects or organizations well. No one can afford to throw away money on initiatives that don’t work. But measurement is often an afterthought or inadequate, taking an in-my-heart-I-know-it-worked approach. Good outcome measurement need not be complicated. It’s easiest if it’s part of the plan from the start.

Packing 101: How to go anywhere with only what you can carry

In these days of checked bag fees and smaller car trunks, traveling light makes sense for so many reasons. Here are my secrets for packing for any trip with carry-on only.

Making the most of social media

In the two years since I first wrote about social media, the question has gone from “How do I use social media in my business?” to “How do I get the best bang for my buck with social media?” To some extent, the answer must depend on your goal; some social media tools are better suited to certain uses than others. There are also some general principles—such as not ticking off others. But how?

Taking care of business: Building a sound model that fits

Articulating an organization’s business model is not an everyday occurrence. Most days everyone is too busy doing the doing. Every organization has a business model, regardless of whether the organization is a company, a non-profit or a government program. Once your organization has identified the business that it is in, it’s important to flesh out the model to ensure that all the elements are in place to support success.

What business are you in? Choosing the right business model

Business models are not just for businesses. They apply equally well to non-profit organizations and government programs. At its simplest, a business model says what the organization does and how it makes money doing it. Of course, nothing is ever quite that simple. We’ll look at four business models and the types of operations that are included under each.

Risk and Benefit Management: A balanced approach

Mention the word “risk,” and most board and management types picture a media feeding frenzy, funding being pulled, and the collapse of civilization as we know it…at least as far as the organization’s future is concerned. But just as things can go wrong, outcomes can also be better than expected. This article looks at three basic elements that put you in control of what happens as much as possible in an uncertain world.

Professional Development in the 21st Century: A world of options

Those of us who are old enough to have gone to the original “old school” can unintentionally limit ourselves when it comes to professional development sources. We may miss out on great learning opportunities that are available, affordable and take advantage of 21st century technology familiar to members of Generation Y.

Finding the “Truth”: Using surveys to find out what people really think

In a world where people feel surveyed to death, it is becoming much harder to get people to give organizations answers that will help them make good decisions. But until somebody invents a way to get information directly from people’s brains, surveys are one of the main tools we have. How can we maximize our chances of getting good information using survey technology?

How many is enough? The quest for an acceptable survey response rate

How many people do I need to survey? That’s the most common question I get as a researcher. The answer, unfortunately, is not simple.