Category: Uncategorized
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 and…
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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 from…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.…
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Take Your Vacation Time
Because of Covid, this Independence Day holiday…and the summer…may feel different. But it is still important to unplug and take some time off.
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Don’t Let Fear Stop You
Sometimes I worry about making important decisions where the correct choice is unclear. I’m an over-thinker. Here’s a personal story about how fear impacted me.
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Taking A Donor-Centric Approach To Fundraising
“Sargent researched how a non-profit can be more effective in establishing a strong relationship with donors”
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Are Your Employees Engaged or Just Going Through The Motions?
When your workers wake up in the morning and know what is expected of them and why it is important, and their efforts are appreciated, they will no longer be part of a Gallup poll statistic that said only 15% say they are fully engaged while at work.
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Should Your Workers Stay Home Permanently?
Twitter has announced that its employees may work from home permanently. Is that something you are considering?
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Keeping Millennials Happy Working For Your Organization
What percentage of your workers were born between 1980 and 1995? By 2025, Millennials will represent 75% of the working population. How are you planning to keep them engaged and with your organization? Or, are you resigned to the fact that they will move on if they can find a job that pays more than…
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How To Take And Organize Your “Smart Notes”
As a “recovering” journalist I’ve always been a note taker. Prior to discovering Evernote, my notes were largely jammed into file folders that were unsearchable and largely unmanageable. In “How To Take Smart Notes”, Sonke Ahrens walks us through a comprehensive organizational system that works on paper as well as digitally.
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Another Take On The Importance of Cash Flow
“If the station is facing cash flow issues, they go from appearing manageable to bad very quickly.”
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Aligning Fundraising Values With Your Audience
“Aligning both the organization and the audience around the idea that journalism is essential infrastructure for democracy and that it has to be supported by the small-d democratic public that it serves makes it all feel like it’s all pulling in the same direction.”
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Only The Paranoid Survive
“The more successful you are, the more people want a chunk of your business and then another chunk and then another until there is nothing left.”
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Take Care of Your Best Employees Before They Leave
The best players on your team may be recruited away or seek bigger opportunities.
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How to Prepare Your Public Media Station to Operate Under the “New Normal”
“While you had very little time to prepare your staff for remote work, it’s important to start planning how you’ll get your station operating at a “new normal” once restrictions are lifted and people begin working from your offices, studios and newsrooms.”
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How To Raise Money During The Pandemic
I’ve long argued that managers should always be building relationships with your largest donors. I would recommend that you begin calling them today.
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How KPBS Is Adapting To The New Normal
“As a manager the best thing I can do is to let my staff know they’re appreciated and connected.”
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Should Nonprofits Have Cash Reserves?
While some struggle with the concept of cash reserves, nonprofit leadership always appreciates forward thinking during a time of crisis.
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How One Midwest Station Is Facing the Pandemic
“On any given day, the delicacy of addressing the substitution of personnel who require self-isolation due to a variety of factors and the matter of having “next up” personnel to take their place is the largest challenge”
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Don’t Let Your Cybersecurity Guard Down During Covid-19
“its a good idea to spend a little time thinking about whether your work at home strategies have unknowingly created opportunities for the bad guys who want to steal your data….or worse.”
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Creating A Virtual Radio Station In A Week
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been reaching out to managers of public radio stations around the country to get a sense of the challenges that they have faced because of ‘stay-at-home’ orders during the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides the staffing and technology challenges, I’m hearing that internal communication structures have needed to adjust. Mike…
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How Safe Are Your Reporters?
We see reports of reporters being shouted at and attacked. Should we be thinking about the safety of our journalists? One University has embarked on a training program.
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Fundraising During A Pandemic
We are going through an incredible period of disruption. But we will get through it. Yet, we will all need to adapt. We’ve started by “social distancing” and having our employees work from home. But more changes will need to be made. For example, every nonprofit and public media organization is going have to deal…
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Tips For Managing A Staff That Works Remotely
The phenomena of remote workers is neither new or unusual. An emergency like Covid 19 is an excellent opportunity to see how it might work for your organization on a more permanent basis.
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Leadership In Times Of A Pandemic
The chances are good that you and your team have developed the basic plans for how your organization moves forward should cases be diagnosed in your community or even in your workplace. Now it is time for you to show your leadership.
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Successful Grant Writing With Limited Resources
Tips for nonprofits on how they can succeed with grant writing despite having a small staff.
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I Have Enough Coffee Mugs
“What if nonprofits focused on a unique experience related to their niche?”
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How Your Board Can Assist With Fundraising
Even board members who are not comfortable with fundraising can still do their part.
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Practical Advice for Self Improvement (A Book Review)
“We blame others for things that happened in the past, making our case look as plausible and sympathetic as possible.”
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Fundraising Tips For Managers
“There is an old adage that people give money to people they like. Yes, they want to support the good work of an organization, but if they are not comfortable with the leaders and the vision of the group, they are less likely to make a major gift.”
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What If There Is No One To Delegate To?
It is easy to say that managers should delegate projects to other staff members. But what if there is no one else available?
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Working in a Government or University Setting
… it’s complicated (and if the institution is dysfunctional) you can easily learn the wrong lessons.”
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Your First Day On The Job
Where do you start? Your first day on the job will be hectic. How do you begin setting a good impression. Here are some ideas.
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Tips For Being On Time
I’m meticulous about not missing meetings. Someone once told me that ‘your calendar is a proxy for your priorities.’ If I commit to meeting you, I will be there.
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Even Tiger Woods Had A Coach
Since I launched this new venture, I’ve had several conversations with individuals who want to be better managers, but other than learning from their own mistakes, they are unclear about where or how to start.
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Why Bother With Performance Evaluations?
No organization should conduct performance reviews if they have no meaningful outcome.
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Leaders Learn To Listen
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.
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Thanks for the Kind Words
In the first few weeks since I launched this blog and my consulting business, I’ve received many kind words. It is deeply appreciated.
Dave Edwards Media 