MentorSF.com

Caught my eye while reading Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness this am. The quote offered a powerful message often lost in many a corporate and transitional change leadership process on workforce motivation.

While some may debate the value of having a “passion” in a personal career path – I don’t believe the importance of self-gratification can ever be stressed enough. 

 “I don’t like work–no man does–but I like what is in the work–the chance to find yourself. Your own reality–for yourself not for others–what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means.” 

― Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

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Got this from one of the lists I read – thought worth sharing.

http://m.govexec.com/excellence/executive-coach/2015/03/three-ways-coach-person-not-problem/106398/?oref=eig_online_nl

Back when we were co-teaching The Flow of Coaching module at the Georgetown Leadership Coaching Program, my good friend, hero and fellow Davidson College alum Frank Ball used to do a funny bit with a bottle of water. To make the point that coaches and leaders should coach people and not problems, Frank would put a bottle of water on the table in the front of the room and say, “This bottle of water represents the problem.” Then he would start coaching the bottle of water. Needless to say, he never got very far. The bottle just didn’t have that many insights on what to change or how to change it.

That’s the thing. People have insights, problems don’t. If you’re a leader who cares about growing and developing your people, you have to coach them, not their problems.

That’s counterintuitive for a lot of leaders and even a lot of professional coaches. The solution to the problem is so obvious (to you) that you just want to jump in there and solve it for them.  That’s not coaching; that’s providing the answer. There’s not much growth in that approach. In fact, you might set growth back by creating a dependency that locks both of you into doing what you’ve always done. And of course when you do that, you’re going to get what you’ve always gotten.

So, the next time you feel the urge to coach the problem, try one or more of these three ways to coach the person and not the problem.

Ask Questions with the Word “You” in Them:  Questions that have “you” in them put the focus on the person, not the problem. They cause people to think and reflect. Examples include:

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• What’s important about that to you?
• What have you tried so far?
• What’s got you stuck?
• What else could you do?
• What would you need to do that?
• What are the next few steps you could take to move things forward?

Spend Regular Time on Non-Agenda Talk:  This is also known as getting to know the other person. If every conversation you have with the other person is driven by an agenda or focused on solving a problem, that’s all you’re going to talk about. You’ll miss the opportunity to learn more about what’s important to that person, what they’re passionate about, what they love, what they hate. Create and leave time to just talk and connect every now and then.

Focus on What, Not How:  Chances are you got where you are in your career because somewhere along the way, a boss gave you a big, hairy problem to solve and more or less got out of your way. They were there to support you in a pinch or act as a sounding board but they weren’t beside you every step of the way saying, “Here’s how you do the next thing and the next thing and the next thing.” They were clear on what needed to be done, but gave you the space on figuring out how to do it. They focused their time and attention on you and let you solve the problem. Now it’s your turn to pay it forward.

(Image via URALSKIY IVAN / Shutterstock.com)

Originally shared via Nonprofit Tech for Good mailing list in 2014.  Social & Mobile Media Service for Nonprofits

(fyi – cut & pasted – not my original work but so worth sharing)

Why YouTube and Video?

• Donors and supporters are increasingly over-whelmed online. Videos and photos often communicate your nonprofit’s story better than text.
• Your chances of creating a “viral” video are about 1 in 5,000,000. Have realistic expectations.

Introduction to YouTube:

• Over one billion unique users visit YouTube each month.
• 100 million people take a social action on YouTube (likes, shares, comments, etc.) every week.
• Forty percent of YouTube traffic occurs on mobile devices.

HOW TO: Set-up and Design a YouTube Channel:

• Create a Google Account. If your nonprofit already has one, then use it to create your new YouTube Channel.
• By default, you will then have a personal Google+ profile from which you can create a Google+ Page.
• If you already have both a YouTube Channel and Google+ Page, you can now easily link the two accounts under Settings > Advanced. Note the YouTube integration into Google+.
• Also, note the integration of YouTube into Google+ Posts.
• The current YouTube Channel design is called One Channel and is designed to accommodate mobile browsing and viewing on smart TVs.
• [Upload an avatar, banner, add links, and about information] [banner dimensions: 2560 x 1440 pixels]
• Add a Channel trailer. (View Save the Children)
• Utilize InVideo Programming under Video Manager > Channel. Also monitor your analytics and take note of the video editing tools.
• If your nonprofit does not have video content, you can still have a YouTube Channel by curating videos using the Playlist function. Add a section(s) to your channel to feature your Playlist(s).

Get Inspired:

• Subscribe to the Nonprofit Video Awards.
• Subscribe to large nonprofits similar to yours in mission and programs. Note that the channels you subscribe to are featured in the YouTube homepage.
• Sign up for the WITNESS Toolkit.

HOW TO: Create Videos for Your Nonprofit:

OPTION 1: Create Your Own Videos

• Purchase a camcorder and a video lighting… or a smartphone or tablet. You could also use stock video.
• You will also need a simple video editing software (Windows Movie Maker is a good free option) and royalty free audio files.
• Video production webinars from Videomaker Magazine.
• Ideally, most videos should be limited to 30-90 seconds and be sure to create an introduction and closing slides.
• View: Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy – ViewBix
• Interview Experts: New Photography: Alex Prager
• Interview Communities Served: Real Story: Judy
• Showcase Events: WildAid’s 2012 Gala: A Wild Night
• Capture Moments: Beagles Rescued from Bankrupt Lab
• Tell a Story: Little Heroes Need Our Help
• Say Thank You: 8 “Thank You” Videos Created by Nonprofits
• Feature Your History, Programs, Location: Save the Children
• Ask for Donations: Big Cat Rescue
• Share Stats and Powerful Quotes: A Billion for a Billion [Infogram Video Infographics]
• Slow Motion: Ballet: A Beautiful Strength
• Fast Motion: Inside Looking Out

OPTION 2: Use Animoto

Animoto automatically produces video slideshows from your photos, video clips and music. It’s free and easy. Premium fees waved for nonprofits via Animoto for a Cause.

OPTION 3: Get a Volunteer

Tap into local universities and colleges! Contact their Career Centers and let them know that you want to hire student interns to produce videos for your nonprofit. Ask for film, art and marketing majors that are looking to build their portfolios.

YouTube’s Nonprofit Program:

• After designing your YouTube Channel, apply to the Google for Nonprofits Program and then enroll to the YouTube for Nonprofits Program.
• The YouTube Nonprofit Program is available to non-political, non-religious, non-health related nonprofits in multiple countries.

YouTube Best Practices:

• Maximize your YouTube SEO using video tags and video titles.
• You may want to include the name of your organization in video titles, such as WildAid.
• Add YouTube icons to your website and blog. (View Nonprofit Tech for Good)
• Insert screenshots of videos into your e-newsletter and link to your website or blog.
• Then, of course, share your videos on social media and embed them into your website and blog.
• Nonprofit Videos that went viral: Follow the Frog, It’s time

Instagram and Vine

• Instagram (15-second videos): Report live from events, create promotional videos, or interview staff, volunteers, and communities served.
• Vine (6-second videos): Thank You Video.

Thank You

• This webinar was sponsored by the Public Interest Registry – the not-for-profit that operates the .ORG domain.
• In the fall they will launch .NGO and .ONG as well as a fundraising-enabled portal to NGOs and .ONGs worldwide.
• Sunrise Period begins January 2015 for registered trademark holders. General availability begins February 2015.

The Public Interest Registry – the nonprofit that manages the .ORG domain – will be launching the .NGO and .ONG domains in the fall of 2014. Unlike the .ORG domain, .NGO and .ONG will only be made available to validated NGOs, nonprofits, and charities worldwide. To learn more and express your interest in your first choice of the .NGO and .ONG domains, please visit globalngo.org.

Came across this great post on the trending “thought leadership” crazed and truly appreciated the diverse ways of “thinking” about the definitions.

Well worth the read.

What Kind of Thought Leader Are You?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-kind-thought-leader-you-dan-cohen

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