"The Parallels Between Top Companies and Best Nonprofit Boards "

[Capt Rivera]

Any thoughts on what CAP is doing at all levels in regards to this?- What can be done at "X" level to improve ourselves?
- What can we do at the grass routs level... In other words, quantifiable take home for those who read this tread...

FC Expert Blog: The Parallels Between Top Companies and Best Nonprofit Boards
         
BY FC Expert Blogger Alice Korngold Thu Feb 18, 2010

In today's challenging environment, the nonprofit boards that will lead their organizations most effectively are the boards that identify, recruit, and develop outstanding leaders and board members who have the experience, expertise, and diversity of perspectives and backgrounds to envision the organization's greater potential and to achieve financial and strategic success. My readers will be familiar with my blogposts and book on this topic.
It should not be surprising to see that, according to new research, top global and North American companies also consider leadership development--for senior management--"more important than ever before" given the economic challenges of the past 18-24 months and the cost pressures facing companies. According to Top Companies for Leaders Study 2009, conducted by Hewitt Associates, Fortune, and The RBL Group, "Organizations that excel at leader-building gain an edge over their competition because they enjoy a surplus of engaged leadership talent and a strong leadership brand, even in the most challenging times."
Interestingly, key attributes of Top Companies, shown below as stated in the study, are entirely consistent with my view of best practices in nonprofit board development:

   
• Tie leadership selection strategies directly to leadership goals and business strategy
• Set clear expectations for leaders with a great deal of transparency
• Expect leaders to demonstrate the company's missions and values
• Develop the next generation of leaders needed to drive and sustain the organization
• Develop a robust pipeline of leaders to drive future success (leadership succession planning)
• Build teams mixed in ethnicity, gender, and age; they outperform companies whose management teams are homogenous
• Provide a formal onboarding process for new leaders
  

The economic crisis was a call to action. Current financial challenges facing companies and nonprofits present opportunities for a new generation of leaders, from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, to lead us forward.

[FW]

For the most part, I agree.  However, there are major differences between non profits and for profits.  The first being: the non profit's bottom line is "the mission".  For profit's bottom line is: "profit".  There is one other major difference; and, that is, in the "workforce".  Leadership must be cognizant of the differences and lead accordingly. 

A great reference source is: "Managing the Non Profit Business" by Peter Drucker.

[Spike]

A great reference source is: "Managing the Non Profit Business" by Peter Drucker.

gargh.....Peter Druker....brings back memories of listening to him hours on end when he was on cassette tape. 

[Capt Rivera]

A great reference source is: "Managing the Non Profit Business" by Peter Drucker.

Any chance you intended:

Managing the Non-Profit Organization: Principles and Practices
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/0887306012

[FW]

That's the one.  Or, you can get the complete audio series from Spike. 

[JC004]

Reading Drucker is easier.  He does come in MP3 nowadays, though.