Dave Edwards

Managing During Times of Trauma

On this edition of LEADERSHIP PLUS, when tragedy strikes your organization, your MBA won’t help you unless you rely on your instincts as a leader as well as a compassionate human being.

Learn From Leaders: Crucial Conversations

Everyone can relate to the line, “One of the biggest mistakes we make during crucial conversations is thinking we have to choose between telling the truth and keeping our friends.” Here is a book with specific tips on how to be a better communicator and leader as we continue our series on learning from leaders.

How Your Board Can Assist With Fundraising

Today on LEADERSHIP PLUS, Even board members who are not comfortable with fundraising can still do their part to help out a nonprofit organization.

Leading During Times of Trauma

On today’s LEADERSHIP PLUS, when tragedy strikes your organization, your MBA won’t help you unless you rely on your instincts as a leader as well as a compassionate human being.

How One On One Meetings Can Actually Prevent Interruptions

Some managers complain that they get interrupted so much that they cannot get their own work done. They also say that one-on-one sessions can be a waste of time. But done well, those meetings will help you end many of the interruptions.

Looking For A New Job?

Have you been thinking about looking for a new job? I know what it will take for your application to stand out from all the rest.

Never Be Late Again

Are you chronically late for appointments? It can negatively impact the way people perceive you and may not want to do business with you. Here are five simple steps so that you will never be late again.

Things A Boss Should Never Say

Your employees are listening to every word you say, and it impacts the way they behave and their productivity.

Motivating The Unmotivated

Do you have an employee who seems to lack focus, takes a lot of time off, or regularly disappears from their desk? Have they become distant from their peers or make comments that are not appropriate for the office? Effective leaders cannot ignore such behavior.

Close The Pay Gap

Do you think your daughter should be paid less than a man doing the same job? It sounds like a simple question, but closing the pay gap remains a problem in many organizations.

Making Faster and Better Decisions

On today’s LEADERSHIP PLUS: Making smart decisions can be difficult but quality internal discussions and strategic planning can help.

Protect Your Data By Planning For The Worst

If you manage a nonprofit, how certain are you that the data you keep on your donors is safe and secure? Recent security breaches should serve as warnings. The experts offer some ideas on how to protect yourself.

Leadership During Times of Crisis

While you are still managing your way out of the Coronavirus, there are things you should be thinking about before you face the next crisis.

How To Start A New Job As The Boss

Making a good first impression as a new boss is extremely important. Here are some tips that will help you get started on you new job when you are the boss.

Managing Up, Down, and Sideways

Today on LEADERSHIP PLUS, effective leaders learn to manage up, down, and sideways. That means effectively “managing” your boss, your peers, and your employees.

Do People Hate Your Workplace Culture?

The leaders of even the smallest of the organizations can take steps to create a positive work environment for their employees…and it will make a difference.

Leaders Need To Learn To Listen

Today on LEADERSHIP PLUS, effective leaders know that they need to be good listeners. By listening, you will learn about things that you couldn’t know. Front line workers have a unique perspective. Plus, by engaging your staff in an open discussion, you will get more buy-in on the outcome of the discussion.

Why Do People Contribute to Your Non-Profit?

Given the changes in the tax law and the growing number of worthwhile causes, it will be increasingly important for nonprofits to build a case statement for their annual campaigns. That also means answering five fundamental questions from donors.

How Can I Help You?

What would make you a better leader? Do you need help managing people, your time or even your boss? I would like to help you find solutions to your problems.

Job Interviews Have Changed – Be Prepared

Anyone looking for a new job should expect the process to have changed thanks to the Coronavirus and the economic downturn. But opportunities await. I have some tips to help your search.

Leading Your Way Out Of The Pandemic

Since the arrival of the Coronavirus we are learning new ways of leading our organizations. We still aren’t out of the woods yet. I want to share some thoughts to think about.

The Importance of Administrative Support

There are many reasons an administrative assistant could be a game-changer for you. Yes there is a cost, but perhaps you can’t afford to be without one unless you have a very tiny team.

Why Do You Want To Change Jobs or Careers?

Are you tempted to change jobs or even careers? There are many reasons to look for a job, but there are some things you may want to do first.

What You Need To Know As You and Your Staff Head Back to The Office

With more and more employees returning to their offices, employers need to create a safe and legal environment for their staff.

Looking For A Job During The Pandemic

Looking for a job during the pandemic and recession is not impossible. As long as you have patience and are willing to take some extra steps, your application go to the top of the stack.

Never Be Late Again

Are your chronically late for appointments? It can negatively impact the way people perceive you and may not want to do business with you. Here are five simple steps so that you will never be late again.

Is It Time To Look For A New Job?

Are you planning to look for a new job but are concerned about your chances during these difficult economic times? Are you stuck in a job or career that no longer inspires you? It’s time to take a step forward. Since I launched my executive coaching and consulting service, a significant portion of my conversations haveContinue reading “Is It Time To Look For A New Job?”

Lessons From Leaders: Phil Jackson

“In basketball—as in life—true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way.”

I’m Truly Honored

Tom Langmyer, is one of those most respected and talented managers in the broadcast business. He caught me pleasantly off guard recently with a post on his Facebook page. Langmyer is CEO of Great Lakes Media Corporation and was previously Vice President and General Manager for WGN in Chicago, KMOX in St. Louis, WTMJ andContinue reading “I’m Truly Honored”

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Dear Public Broadcasting Colleagues, We are fortunate to work in an amazing industry. I thought about that as I sat and watched journalists win awards at the last Wisconsin Broadcasters Association awards banquet. Despite all of the concerns that local radio is dead or dying, some very creative work was being honored. It came fromContinue reading “All Good Things Must Come To An End”

Appropriate Relationships With Employees

Leaders learn how to coach their employees. That means getting to know them so they can determine how they can best motivate them. But everyone is different, so it’s important get to know what makes them tick.

The Typical Public Media Manager is a “General” Manager Out of Necessity

At most public media stations, the staff is small and the manager must be able to do almost everything. But when the staff grows in size, the manager needs to become an effective coach.

Four Tips For Leading During Covid

We had hoped that Covid would be behind us by now. But now that its ramifications continue, leaders should focus on things to keep their employees healthy and productive.

How Has Your Workday Changed Since You Started Working From Home?

A new research report presents interesting findings about how Americans have adapted to working from home. Some of the results may not be what you expect.

Use Your Calendar For Increased Productivity

Manage your calendar, or it will manage you. To begin, I suggest that you use your calendar correctly. Protect your calendar so that meeting requests can be prioritized.

Assessing Your Work From Home Performance

The ‘work at home’ phenomenon is new for many organizations and managers. Assessing the performance of those who work remotely is a work in progress. It won’t be perfect in its early days.

Managing Your Email So It Doesn’t Manage You

“One of the greatest consumers of your time is processing your email. A research report showed that email is the second-most time-consuming activity next to ‘role-specific tasks.”

Performance Reviews During The Pandemic

In the early days of COVID 19, many human resource managers advised that evaluations be postponed. They assumed that business would get back to normal in six months. That didn’t happen. If organizations continue to delay evaluations, it is a sure sign that the exercise is unnecessary.

Evaluating Your Skills As A Communicator

Leaders spend most of their days communicating with different stakeholders. Yet many employees complain that the directions they get from their bosses are often unclear. Moreover, even if the instructions are clear, sometimes expectations are vague.

The Importance of Your Website To Your Donors

A new report indicates that visitors using a desktop browser are 75% more likely to convert to become donors to your nonprofit than those visiting via mobile devices. And you want to keep them on your campaign site longer.

Should We Bother With Performance Evaluations?

In order to be helpful, evaluations must be structured effectively or they may be perceived as a waste of time.

Are You Ready For Another Crisis?

Sooner or later, every company and organization must deal with a crisis of their own making. How you can prepare for that eventuality?

Testing Your Integrity

As a leader, you need to demonstrate your integrity if you expect your employees to behave the same way.

Good Leaders Are Optimists

People feed off the attitudes of the people around them. If you want to be an effective leader, learn to be an optimist. It is good for your own health, but will also help your team have a better attitude about their work.

Step Away From That Screen

I find it funny that not that long ago we were warning our teenagers about the dangers of too much screen time. Now because we are working from home, we are the ones with the screen time problem.

Fundraising Is Not Just About Raising Money

If you lead a nonprofit organization, how well do you know your top donors? While some individuals are comfortable with writing a large check to national non-profit when people contribute to local organizations, they frequently want to know more about how their donations will be used and the people who will be spending their money. That’s why leaders must also be comfortable with their fundraising role.