Three Principles To Awaken Your Association Force Leadership January 28, 2016 by Jeff Hurt Have you seen the newest installment in the Star Wars saga: Episode VII “The Force Awakens?” I admit I’m something of a Star Wars fan. Just take a look at my Facebook page and you’ll see. One of the major themes in the Star Wars films is light versus dark, good versus evil. That same … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , association best practices, association governance, leadership, volunteer leadership
Bill MacDonald Joins the Velvet Chainsaw Team October 22, 2015 by Dave Lutz We’re excited to welcome Bill MacDonald, Vice President, Analysis & Insights to the Velvet Chainsaw Consulting team starting November 2, 2015. VCC will now a team member in Michigan. Having our roots in Ohio, Michigan is public enemy #1. I had to set aside my emotions on this choice and make the rational decision of … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , Bill MacDonald, strategy
You Choose: Bloated Painfully Slow Blimp Or Stealth Agile Fighter Jet September 21, 2015 by Jeff Hurt Recently I saw the Goodyear Blimp circling a major Dallas freeway. It bounced up and down with the intensity of a bobble-head-frenzy. Several times it plunged nose-first in a new direction. It was clunky and off target—at least it looked like it was astray. It was also painfully slow.Some association governance structures have bloated into … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , #assnchat, association future, association governance, decision-making, governance model, leadership, nonprofit governance, organization structure, strategic planning
Conference Connexity: Deliver Your Networking Promise Webinar September 9 September 1, 2015 by Sarah Michel We spend the majority of our day in front of screens and media (digital, print & TV) says eMarketer. No wonder we are starved for face to face interactions! Your organization can help satisfy our cravings for community and connections by delivering conference experiences that foster connexity. Connexity is more than speed networking. It is … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , community, conference best practices, connexity, engagement, networking
Devastatingly Deranged Unhealthy Structures To Your Mission August 27, 2015 by Jeff Hurt Is your current structure stifling your mission? Do you have metaphorical tollbooths for your staff and volunteer leaders? Those tollbooths serve as permission-withholding stops and starts where every staff member and leader must get authorization and agreement to move an idea forward. Tollbooths are usually embedded in your organization’s governance structure—the bylaws, constitution, committees and … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , #assnchat, association governance, governance model, nonprofit governance, organization structure
Developing 21st Century Brain Savvy Leadership Webinar August 18 August 17, 2015 by Jeff Hurt It has come like a thunderbolt. A large boom followed by a blinding light. It’s as if we woke up from a long, long sleep. Some of our most esteemed and successful associations woke up and discovered that the world around them has drastically changed. And the change keeps on coming. Register now for this … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , brain friendly leaders, brain savvy leadership, empathy, leadership, neuroleadership, neuroscience
Creating Sticky Learning: Complimentary (Sales Free) VCC Webinar July 30 July 20, 2015 by Jeff Hurt As adults, we are rather lazy learners. Much of what we hold as fact regarding learning is actually illusion. We waste a lot of effort, time and resources with common-sense accepted educational practices that are rooted in intuition, tradition and myth. The most effective learning strategies and education programming are counter-intuitive. We need to build … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, brain-friendly conferences, conference best practices, conference education, learning
Follow Your Dreams – A Bitter/Sweet Day at VCC June 30, 2015 by Jeff Hurt We’re very blessed to have an incredible team here at VCC! But, today marks the final (official) day of one of our MVP’s, Donna Kastner. Donna is a go getter! Prior to joining us, she developed a business/community concept called Retirepreneur. (Pretty cool, right?) She’s leaving our company so that she can invest more of … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , Donna Kastner, follow your dreams
Breaking Through The Guardians Of Change By Addressing The A In ACE May 15, 2015 by Jeff Hurt How can you unlock the grip of failure on your organization? “What?” you ask. “My organization is not operating at a loss or failing.” Oh, I beg to differ. If your organization strives to achieve status quo, a failure mentality has taken hold. Fear of failure and fear of change are probably your organization’s biggest … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , brain friendly strategies, brain-friendly meetings, change, change management, leadership, neuroleadership, neuroscience
Brain-Savvy Leaders Foster ACE May 14, 2015 by Jeff Hurt In order to grow, your organization must change. Organizations that refuse to move become stagnate. They become trapped, treading water through a set of regular routines while getting nowhere. Without lasting change, organizations become dull, sluggish and deteriorate. They eventually die, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. Unfortunately, the majority of organizational change fails, misses the mark … [Read more…] Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: , brain friendly strategies, brain-friendly meetings, change, change management, leadership, neuroleadership, neuroscience
