How to Build Partnerships That Last

If your nonprofit or social impact organization is considering working with potential partners, keep in mind that partnership opportunities can range from cooperation or collaboration through full integration or merger. It’s important that you and your Board first clarify your rationale for seeking out partnering organizations. By doing so, you will help to ensure greater strategic alignment with any organization you choose to approach.

Once you’ve determined your reasoning to establish a partnership with another organization, it’s important to fully engage your partner – create explicit opportunities for both organizations to contribute to development of ideas and solutions, and participate in decision-making processes. Moreover, realize that building partnerships can take time. It would not be unusual for you to call and exchange information for months before a new partnership yields tangible results, such as funding for a joint project.

The most successful and long-term partnerships are the ones that involve a real relationship between the partnering organizations. Passion for the mission and commitment to mutual benefit are key factors. From our consulting work with nonprofit and social impact organizations, we have identified Top 3 Partnership Success Factors:

• Executive involvement (senior leadership and/or executive “champions”)
• Strong working relationships
• Strong board involvement

These factors often lead to the preservation of relevant services or programs, improved image or reputation, and greater long-term financial stability. Furthermore, if mutual gains are identified at the onset of the partnership, this can result in better organizational and program alignment.

To learn more about how to assess new partnership opportunities for your organization or strengthen your existing partner relationships, contact me HERE. This article is a summary of my recent workshop at The Foundation Center in conjunction with Nonprofit Specialists on the same subject.

Here's the Problem with New Year's Resolutions

According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, of the people who typically make New Year's Resolutions, 64% are successful in maintaining those resolutions beyond one month. How's it going for YOU? To increase your odds of achieving what you want this year, I'd like to suggest elevating your perspective to define an overall Vision for 2015. It's important to have a compelling vision, for you personally as well as for your business or organization. That way, when life and work demands pull you in multiple directions, you keep perspective.

Here are four steps to define your 2015 Vision:

1. Get Prepared for a Fresh Start in 2015
Consider any setbacks or disappointments from last year that you need to let go of in order to begin anew. Can you forgive yourself, and forgive any other people who may have been involved? Bringing old resentments into the new year can stop you from spotting new opportunities because your lens is being clouded by your previous experiences. You can learn from the past without letting it hold you back from trying again or keeping you mired in fear or doubt.

2. Get (Re)connected to Your WHY 
What core mission or purpose inspires you? What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning and keep striving for another day? Revealing your true intentions can make it easier to choose between competing ideas, requests or tasks. Typically, when you choose to act according to your intentions, you feel more at ease and less conflicted. It’s because you are being authentic by honoring your deepest desires and priorities.

3. Get Honest About Your Patterns 
Sometimes we can hold ourselves back from realizing our vision; sometimes this happens when we encounter new situations that take us out of our comfort zone. We end up doing the exact opposite of what we intend to do. These behaviors, and/or habits are blind spots because you're not always aware of them and/or fully aware of the impact they can have on fulfilling your intentions. What attitudes, behaviors, and/or habits could get in your way of fulfilling your intentions?  

4. Get Clear on What You Want 
As you look back at the close of 2015, what will be your most memorable achievements? What will you have felt and experienced, and with whom? What key milestones will have helped you achieve your vision? You might consider doing some creative visualization to imagine your life as it will be when you have fulfilled your intentions in 2015.

What’s important is to define and articulate your vision so that you are declaring that this is what you want to achieve. Then, perhaps you can relax a bit, and as Deepak Chopra says: “Let the Universe handle all the details.”

In Which Direction is Your Mindset Taking You and Your Business?

It's been said that your mindset is like the steering wheel of your life. In which direction is your mindset taking you? Could you use a Mindset Reset?



What would you do if your business became unrecognizable to you in the second half of 2014?

I'm looking for a few business leaders who are ready to work on their most important business goals like they knew they couldn't fail. Sign up for a Mindset Reset for Business Coaching Session using the button below:

Have a Major Breakthrough in Results on September 13

Have you been working hard to achieve results this year, yet things aren't happening as fast as you'd like? Are you ready for a major BREAKTHROUGH?

Join me on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 7 pm ET for a special, NO-COST Preview Session for my Reconnect to Your Purpose & Get RE-Focused Group Coaching Program. On this call, you will create a crystal-clear vision of your ultimate success and perfect lifestyle. You'll get re-energized and inspired to create a powerful, results-driven plan that helps you get things done and still have a flourishing personal life.

This call is especially for women entrepreneurs, leaders, and managers who want to overcome fear, regret, setbacks, or struggle in your business and other career-related endeavors -- to give yourself the space, time and permission to reconnect with your passion and enthusiasm for life!

Know that I'm rooting for you and look forward to hearing you on the special Preview Session on Tuesday, September 13!

Focus on Your Vision: Free eBook thru March 12

Did YOU Know -- that 2011 is the 40th birthday of the e-Book? That's right, it's been 40 years since Michael S. Hart created the first "e-Book".

And, March 6-12, 2011 is Read an e-Book Week! First recognized in 2004, the week is designed to educate and inform people of the fun and advantages of reading books electronically -- on your e-reader, on your laptop, or any other "smart" electronic device.

In recognition of Read an e-Book Week, I'm giving away FREE copies of my e-Book, Focus on Your Vision: A Positive, Practical Approach to Achieve Your Biggest Dreams until MARCH 12.

To get your FREE copy, visit the Focus on Your Vision page on Smashwords.com and use code RE100  at checkout. My e-Book is a great introductory tool to jumpstart your personal (or professional) strategic visioning process -- with the help of guided visualizations and insightful exploration questions.

As you know, all Focus on Your Vision e-Book purchasers are eligible to receive a discount on an introductory coaching session with me (via phone). Exact details on the amount and how to claim it are available inside.

Are you wondering what was the first "e-Book"? Visit the ebookweek.com website to find out and get more insight on e-Book libraries and "Project Gutenberg".

After you have read Focus on Your Vision, please submit a review on the Smashwords or Amazon websites to let others know what you learned or discovered. Many thanks, and happy e-Reading this week!

Coach Colette Offers FREE Strategy Coaching in October

In 2010, I’ve focused on helping you define your key priorities, implement your SMART goals and stay motivated in today’s New Normal. As you know, I’ve offered a series of FREE quarterly events (two teleseminars and one webinar) to help you and your team Bring Your Future into Laser Focus. The next seminar was originally scheduled for Thursday, September 30. Since I know it’s been a challenging year for many of us, I’ve decided to sweeten the deal and give you even more personalized help.

To help you kick start your 4th Quarter results, finish the year and exceed even your own expectations, I’ve decided to replace the September seminar and instead offer FREE one-on-one 30 minute laser coaching sessions! You should sign up if you are a CEO, CFO, Executive Director, Board Chair, or any Team Leader who is responsible for bringing in revenues, setting organizational priorities, or managing strategic projects.

Sign up for your Bring Your Future into Laser Focus individual strategy coaching session so that you can:

• Create a crystal-clear vision for the business results and revenue goals you will achieve in the 4th quarter
• Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success in achieving these goals
• Identify ONE task you can execute right after the session that will bring you immediate, positive results
• Leave the session renewed, re-energized and inspired to share your vision, and encourage active participation and ownership by all team members in your collective success

Being clear on your vision will improve your productivity, morale, and motivation so you'll able to pull your team together to meet current challenges (e.g., higher expectations, tighter budgets and fewer resources, increased need to integrate systems and teams).

If you’re serious about making some real headway for you and your team as the economy rebounds in 2011, sign up for your FREE Bring Your Future into Laser Focus individual coaching session TODAY! I have a limited number of spaces for individual coaching sessions that will begin on Monday, October 4, 2010.

Pictures from Nonprofit Coaching Event

Happy Friday! I've just posted pictures from yesterday's Advice-Link event to my Facebook page. Congratulations to Sue Green of Nonprofit Central for organizing this valuable, interactive event! And, kudos to Howard Levy of Red Rooster Group for updating our website so quickly!

It was great to meet nonprofit leaders in New York who are seeking creative ways to strengthen the capacity of their organizations. And, it also was fun to connect with other talented consultants. I'm looking forward to future strategic coaching events ... or, as I think they should be called 30-Minute Dating for Organizations. LOL!

Colette Joins other Nonprofit Experts on June 12

This quarter has really brought attention to my public sector work --

• Leadership Training events for public librarians back in April
• Coaching trainees in May for yesterday's Debate Day event for OBT
• Volunteering on Tuesday for the Games for Change conference [more details soon]

And, the trend continues! Next Thursday (June 12 beginning at 8:30 AM), I'm delighted to be participating in another fantastic, half-day event to build capacity of the nonprofit sector -- Advice-Link: One-on-One Consulting for Nonprofit Leaders.

Are you running a nonprofit program in the New York area (or are you thinking of starting one)? Do you have a "burning question" about how to improve your organization?

Nonprofit Central has gathered some of the tri-state area's top consultants to provide 30-minute strategic consultations to nonprofit leaders -- think speed dating meets organizational coaching! In addition to the individualized coaching sessions, attendees will engage in pre- and post-networking activities to expand their contacts and brainstorm new ideas.

Register NOW for Advice-Link on Thursday, June 12. Appointments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. I hope to see you there!

Entrepreneurs: What Are You Curious About?

The question of today's post is the underlying theme of a NEW podcast on the Competent Advantage TM channel about professional development for business owners. The podcast is my conversation with Eva Lilijendahl, an executive coach and founder of Inspiration for Excellence.

In today's business economy, you may be wondering why Eva and I spent time talking about curiosity -- why not talk about developing new business strategies, or expanding into new markets? Well, indirectly, we were talking about that -- how to be proactive about deciding in which areas to develop your skills (that will presumably help grow your business), by first spending a little time tapping into your curiosity. In fact, Eva believes that curiosity has everything to do with business development; and, I'm inclined to agree.

As I've mentioned, 2008 has become my year of technology with my recent hardware purchases. These purchases have made me more curious about social networking and Web 2.0 -- now that I have the gadgets that enable me to take greater advantage! What has that meant for my business? Well, I've yet to see the full impact; but I can speak to new habits I've included into my routine: checking in and updating my Facebook page; monitoring and adding posts to my MOLI Life Balance Board. On the fun side, I've created a new Avatar for myself on Meez (see sidebar)-- a true example of how learning can be fun!

In my world of coaching and consulting, being curious about technology will likely serve me well. Yet, Eva and I also discussed indirect benefits from learning things that may have nothing do with your business or career (won't give too much away but example in the podcast involves stage performance). Have you ever been surprised by being able to use a skill for work that you gained during a purely fun activity?

While on the road with the librarians, I recall that Kevin (Carroll) always encouraged them to stir up their sense of "neoteny" as a way of keeping an open mind during the training sessions. Don't worry, I hadn't heard of the word before either! But, it's the ability to keep your childlike quailities -- one of which is curiosity.

So, I'll ask again: what are you curious about now?

Ask and You Shall Receive ...

Thank you, Nina, for sharing your thoughts on the gender earnings gap.

I wanted to bring to the forefront the Harvard Business Review findings you shared on career and salary negotiation -- if we don't ask for something, how can we legitimately expect to receive it?

Relevant to your comment "the squeaky wheel gets oiled, and the ones doing the squeaking are not women:"

In the Competent Advantage workshop, we help people identify ways to document, promote and leverage their accomplishments.

• Documenting accomplishments is important -- how will you know what (or how much) to ask for during a performance management meeting if you don't have a full sense of what you've achieved?
• Promoting accomplishments is crucial -- you can't presume that your manager knows all that you've accomplished in a given month or quarter (let alone a full year!). Use the documentation you gather to provide him/her a regular "heads-up" on what you're doing.
• Leveraging accomplishments pulls it all together. Once you've documented what you've done and told others about it, how can you use these accomplishments to your advantage?

1. Asking for a role with more visibility?
2. Bidding for a new project or committee?
3. Developing a new relationship with a key stakeholder?

I'd suggest that these strategies are relevant for both genders. However, the reasons you mentioned from the Babcock study ("socialization, penalization and frustration") could erode a woman's confidence to make the request.

Thoughts? Experiences?