Mission: Impact

Carol Hamilton
Mission: Impact

Mission Impact is the podcast for nonprofit leaders who want to build a better world without becoming a martyr to the cause. Interviews of nonprofit experts explore how to make your organization more effective and innovative for greater mission impact. Hosted by Carol Hamilton, principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, nonprofit strategic planning and evaluation design consultant.

  1. FEB 4

    Project management for nonprofits with Jami Yazdani

    In episode 116 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton interviews Jami Yazdani, a nonprofit project management expert specializing in helping organizations achieve their goals effectively. The conversation: Focuses on the nuances of project management in mission-driven organizations,  Offers practical insights for nonprofit leaders to balance strategic vision and operational execution.  Emphasizes prioritization, clear communication, stakeholder inclusion, and sustainable planning as critical to success.  Episode Highlights: [00:06:31] Misconceptions About Project Management [00:09:01] Stakeholder Management [00:12:09] Communication Planning [00:14:47] Writing a Clear Project Scope [00:17:06] Defining a Project vs. Program [00:23:02] Transition from Strategic Planning to Implementation [00:29:00] Accountability and Engagement [00:36:07] Invitation to Nonprofit Leaders Guest Bio: Jami Yazdani is a project management and planning consultant with over 18 years of experience leading innovative and impactful initiatives. She spent more than 14years in leadership roles in higher education and libraries, managing teams,projects, and change. Jami founded Yazdani Consulting and Facilitation in 2018 to help mission-driven organizations lead more impactful projects, teams, and planning. She has served on the boards of non-profits and associations in leadership, marketing, programming, and mentoring roles. Jami holds Master's degrees in Technology Management and Library and Information Science and ProjectManagement Professional (PMP), Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM), ChangeManagement, and Wicked Problem Solving Practitioner certifications. Important Links and Resources: Jami Yazdani https://yazdaniconsulting.com/ https://linktr.ee/yazdanicf https://yazdaniconsulting.com/impactful-blog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcWWX8w7MtE https://yazdaniconsulting.com/resources/2022/2/7/5-key-elements-worksheet   Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show 📚Find the books referred to on Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    42 min
  2. JAN 21

    Strategic thinking for nonprofits with Michael Butera

    In episode 115 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Michael Butera dive into the challenges and opportunities facing associations as they adapt to 21st-century realities.  They talk about: The difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning Why acting like a three year old can be good for you (ask why five times in a row) How adaptability will be a key differentiator as to which organizations continue to grow and thrive.  Episode Highlights: [00:10:05] Strategic Thinking vs. Strategic Planning   [00:15:18] VUCA vs. BANI Frameworks   [00:20:58] The Role of Membership in Associations   [00:24:30] Governance Challenges   [00:28:06] Foresight and Observational Practices   [00:36:47] Adapting to Change   [00:45:57] Building Sustainable Cultures   Guest Bio: Michael Butera is a keynote speaker featuring Strategic Thinking, Innovate or Stagnate: Adapting 20th Century Traditions to 21st-Century Realities. Practice areas include governance, restructuring, strategic facilitation, foresight, and coaching. He is an expert partner at the Rogue Tulip Consultants, a Toastmasters, and a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Speaking Coach and Mentor. Important Links and Resources: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelabutera/ Association ActiVision, LLC https://www.michaelbuteraspeaks.com/ ASAE Drivers of Change: https://www.asaecenter.org/resources/asae-foresightworks The Heath Brothers (Author of Switch and other books) https://heathbrothers.com/ SCARF model: https://www.bitesizelearning.co.uk/resources/scarf-model-david-rock-explained#:~:text=The%20SCARF%20model%2C%20introduced%20by,take%20steps%20to%20mitigate%20these. BANI: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeroenkraaijenbrink/2022/06/22/what-bani-really-means-and-how-it-corrects-your-world-view/ VUCA: https://executiveacademy.at/en/news/detail/bani-vs-vuca-how-leadership-works-in-the-world-of-tomorrow/   Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show 📚Find the books referred to on Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    53 min
  3. JAN 7

    [Re-release] Five Steps to Nonprofit Strategic Planning

    In episode 114 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton is re-releasing a favorite from last year. It includes: What strategic planning is and is not The five steps to a comprehensive strategic planning process The Keys to ensuring your plan gets put into action and stays relevant The five steps are 1. kick off, 2. discovery or listening tour, 3. explore, 4. decide, 5. plan & act Strategic planning: Strategic planning is a structured process for setting priorities for the medium term (3-5 years). It involves gathering insights from stakeholders, identifying themes, exploring futures, and making decisions to focus the organization’s future in service of its mission. What it is NOT It’s not about predicting or controlling the future. Just the document, it's about conversations that build alignment and shared understanding. It is not just a retreat Kick Off Setting yourself up for success Let everyone know what is happening and what is coming Pull together a team Equity considerations Discover Go on a listening tour Interviews, focus groups, surveys – what will work for you. How are you making participation accessible? Explore Share the current state as well as hopes and aspirations Explore the wider landscape and ecosystem for trends imagine new futures for the organization Decide Prioritize and decide on the future directions and goals: Where will you put your energy? Revisit your mission and vision – are they aligned with where you are going? Plan & Act Define action steps, success indicators, and feedback mechanisms.   Keeping the Plan Fresh  Agree on a process for reviewing and updating the plan   Be in touch ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show 🌟 Like what you heard? Please help share the podcast by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    20 min
  4. 12/03/2024

    Permission slips for nonprofit leaders

    In episode 112 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton shares several guests perspectives on the question: “what permission slip they would give to nonprofit leaders or what they would invite them to consider, to avoid being a martyr to the cause and as they work towards cultivating a healthier organizational culture.” Together they: Provide thoughtful, actionable advice to foster healthier, more sustainable, and inclusive organizational cultures.  Explore why acknowledging your humanity  and engaging in intentional self-reflection is key How collaborative team building help leaders avoid burnout, grow personally and professionally, and create a more lasting impact.   Episode highlights: [00:02:00] Be Thyself [00:04:00] Acknowledge Humanity [00:06:00] Permission to Be Wrong [00:07:00] Take a Personal Retreat. These retreats help leaders maintain perspective and prevent burnout. [00:09:00] Build Other Leaders [00:11:00] Focus Your Efforts [00:13:00] Envision Abundance [00:15:00] Closing Reflection Important Links and Resources: Not Too Late – Rebecca Solnit   Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show 📚Find the books referred to on Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    18 min
  5. 11/19/2024

    From Peer to Leader: Navigating Nonprofit Leadership Transitions. with Asila Calhoun

    In episode 111 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton and Asila Calhoun explore:  The challenges nonprofit staff face when transitioning into leadership roles Managing difficult conversations: a key leadership skill Effective leadership in remote environments.  Episode Highlights: [00:06:15] Common Challenges of New Leaders New leaders often struggle with delegation, managing former peers, and giving feedback. Asila discusses how these challenges stem from an inability to let go of tasks or set clear boundaries in new roles. [00:09:20] The Importance of Delegation Asila explains that delegation is not just about offloading tasks but creating growth opportunities for team members. She guides leaders to reflect on what prevents them from delegating and the negative consequences of not doing so. [00:013:20] Managing Peer-to-Leader Transitions Transitioning from peer to leader is difficult due to personal relationships. Asila advises setting clear expectations and professional boundaries to maintain effective leadership. [00:15:20] Preparing for Difficult Conversations Preparation is key for delivering feedback. Asila suggests narrowing down feedback points to be concise and effective, ensuring the conversation leads to productive outcomes. [00:18:15] Trends in Nonprofit Leadership: Burnout and Overwhelm Burnout and resource constraints are common among nonprofit leaders. Asila encourages leaders to set boundaries and focus on self-care, emphasizing that overextending oneself leads to diminished effectiveness. [00:20:30] Self-Care and Leadership Effectiveness Leaders need to protect their time for self-reflection and well-being to avoid burnout. Asila shares an example of a client who realized that sacrificing personal time led to lower performance and overall well-being. [00:21:15] Organizational Support for Mental Health Asila recommends organizations integrate self-care practices, such as meditation or ensuring employees take real time off, to foster a healthy work environment. [00:22:30] Remote Leadership While remote work has become more common, Asila stresses the importance of intentional leadership in a virtual environment. Leaders should ensure equity among team members, regardless of their physical presence, and make deliberate efforts to include remote staff in team dynamics. [00:26:00] Hybrid Work Models and Intentionality For hybrid teams, Asila suggests coordinating in-person time to foster collaboration, while being mindful of not creating biases against remote workers. [00:29:20] Investing in Leaders Asila's final message invites nonprofit leaders to invest in themselves through coaching and leadership development. This investment not only enhances their own leadership but also drives their organization’s mission forward.   Guest Bio: Asila Calhoun, owner of Calhoun Coaching & Consulting, is a certified coach whose leadership and executive coaching practice focuses on partnering with new leaders through executives from a variety of professional backgrounds who are ready for change. Asila facilitates this change during one-on-one and group coaching sessions with her clients and through her consulting services of delivering leadership training, team facilitation, and diversity, equity and inclusion consulting, training and coaching. Asila has clients from several industries, including biotechnology/clinical research, healthcare, property management, and law, as well as leaders of non-profit organizations and business owners.  Asila earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UC Berkeley. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and a Certified Inclusion Coach (CIC). Asila is also a certified meditation teacher. Important Links and Resources: https://linktr.ee/calhouncoaching Calhoun Coaching & Consulting Monthly Newsletter YouTube   Related Episodes: Episode 51: Coaching visionary nonprofit leaders Episode 92: Three stages of nonprofit leadership Episode 103: Equitable nonprofit leadership Episode 107: Nonprofit leadership teams that work Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show 📚 Find the books referred to on Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    33 min
  6. 11/05/2024

    Who needs to be involved in Nonprofit Strategic Planning?

    In episode 110 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton discusses who should be involved in a nonprofit strategic planning process. She: Explores How a more inclusive approach that leverages diverse perspectives from both internal and external stakeholders  Challenges the traditional top-down approach,  Describes the role of each group of stakeholders in the process   Episode highlights: Inclusive Strategic Planning [00:00:00] Carol begins by addressing a frequent question: Who should be involved in nonprofit strategic planning? She introduces the podcast's inclusive approach, encouraging organizations to assess their current position, envision a positive future, and identify steps to reach their goals collaboratively. Challenges with Traditional Strategic Planning Models [00:02:06] Carol critiques the traditional, top-down approach to strategic planning borrowed from the for-profit sector. She explains why this model is less effective in nonprofits, where ownership is collective and all voices matter. Defining Inclusive Strategic Planning [00:02:29] Carol explains her vision of inclusive strategic planning, which encompasses concentric circles of stakeholders. This approach brings in perspectives from staff, board members, beneficiaries, community members, partners, funders, and others. Benefits of Inclusivity in Strategic Planning [00:03:02] She outlines the benefits of an inclusive approach, such as stronger buy-in and access to a wider range of perspectives. Carol addresses leaders' concerns about managing multiple voices and emphasizes that inclusivity does not mean involving everyone at every stage. Key Stakeholder Groups in Strategic Planning [00:04:00] Carol discusses the roles of various stakeholders: the strategic planning task force, executive director, leadership team, board, staff, volunteers, and external voices such as donors, funders, partners, policymakers, and community representatives. Role of the Strategic Planning Task Force [00:04:58] The task force’s purpose is clarified as stewarding the planning process rather than making content decisions, a distinction that helps manage expectations and anxiety about influence. Engaging Internal Stakeholders [00:07:00] Carol stresses the importance of involving internal stakeholders, including staff from all levels, to gain insights into the operational realities of the organization. She shares various methods for gathering their input, such as interviews, focus groups, and surveys. External Stakeholders: Partners, Funders, and Experts [00:11:02] Carol describes the value of including external voices, including funders, partners, government leaders, and futurists, in the data-gathering phase. These stakeholders can offer insights into trends and broader environmental factors. Role of the Strategic Planning Consultant [00:11:41] She explains the role of consultants, like herself, in facilitating the process and providing an outside perspective, helping organizations to synthesize diverse insights into actionable themes. Synthesizing Insights into a Coherent Plan [00:13:06] After gathering data, Carol discusses the synthesis stage, where themes and commonalities are identified. This process benefits from an external facilitator manage this big project. Conducting Constructive Planning Sessions [00:13:43] Carol emphasizes the importance of involving a cross-section of staff and board members in planning sessions to make meaning from the data. She details facilitation techniques that encourage openness and productive discussions. Balancing Vision and Decision-Making [00:14:49] Carol explains how to prioritize initiatives based on factors such as mission alignment, community impact, and resource availability, using methods that make the planning process focused and achievable. Why Inclusive Nonprofit Strategic Planning works better [00:17:20] Carol wraps up by reiterating the importance of inclusivity in strategic planning. By embracing diverse voices, nonprofits can create a shared vision that is truly reflective of the community and fosters a stronger, more effective organization.   Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show Find the books referred to on Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    20 min
  7. 10/22/2024

    Beyond the Retreat: Comprehensive Nonprofit Strategic Planning

    In episode 109 of Mission: Impact, Carol Hamilton discusses the critical components of nonprofit strategic planning, emphasizing that it's much more than just a retreat. She highlights the importance of preparation, comprehensive stakeholder involvement, and continuous adaptation to ensure the strategic plan remains relevant and actionable. Hamilton underscores that nonprofits should consider a strategic planning process that includes pre-retreat work, stakeholder engagement, and post-retreat follow-through, fostering alignment between board members, staff, and the overall mission. The episode concludes by reminding leaders that strategic planning is an ongoing, adaptive process aimed at maintaining the organization’s ability to respond to changing circumstances while staying focused on its mission.    Episode highlights: [00:00:00] Strategic Planning Beyond the Retreat Carol introduces the episode by discussing the common misconception that strategic planning is just about the retreat. She explains that a truly effective process requires more preparation and post-retreat follow-up for long-term success. [00:03:00] Why Do Strategic Planning? Strategic planning helps nonprofits step back to assess their current state, engage with stakeholders, and reconnect with the organization’s mission. The medium-term focus (3–5 years) creates a roadmap for growth and mission alignment. [00:05:00] Pre-Retreat Preparation: Data Gathering and Stakeholder Input Carol emphasizes the importance of gathering input from a diverse range of stakeholders before the retreat. This data gathering phase, often aided by an outside consultant, helps shape the strategic inquiry for a more informed and balanced planning process. [00:07:00] Involving Both Board and Staff in the Retreat Carol explains that involving both board members and staff (depending on the organization's size) leads to a more holistic understanding of the nonprofit and enhances buy-in for the resulting strategic plan. This inclusive approach ensures that the plan is grounded in reality and supported by key stakeholders. [00:08:20] Pitfalls of a Retreat-Only Approach If strategic planning retreats are conducted without adequate preparation, they risk creating disjointed goals that don’t align with the organization's actual capacity or needs. Carol cautions against generating “wish lists” that lack actionable steps for implementation. [00:09:00] Post-Retreat Follow-Through and Plan Implementation After the retreat, a smaller committee should refine the draft plan and ensure feedback from the larger group is integrated. Carol stresses the importance of setting shorter-term goals (quarterly, biannually) to ensure the organization remains agile and responsive to change. [00:11:00] The Dynamic Nature of Strategic Planning Strategic planning is not a static process. Carol advises that plans should be revisited regularly, with progress measured and adjustments made as new challenges arise. Having clear success indicators helps ensure the plan evolves along with the organization’s needs. [00:12:00] Embracing the Full Scope of Strategic Planning Carol concludes by reinforcing that the power of strategic planning lies in its ongoing nature, which allows nonprofits to remain adaptable and responsive while still focused on their mission. Leaders are encouraged to embrace this comprehensive process to boost both organizational impact and sustainability.   Be in Touch: ✉️ Subscribe to Carol’s newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting 💻 Give us feedback on the show Find the books referred to on Mission: Impact 👥 Like what you heard? Please share the podcast with a colleague or friend 🌟 Help more people learn about Mission: Impact by leaving a rating & review. 😀 Connect with Carol Hamilton ➡️ LinkedIn

    14 min
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Mission Impact is the podcast for nonprofit leaders who want to build a better world without becoming a martyr to the cause. Interviews of nonprofit experts explore how to make your organization more effective and innovative for greater mission impact. Hosted by Carol Hamilton, principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting, nonprofit strategic planning and evaluation design consultant.

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