Changing Organizational Structures

The structure of your organization might need to be changed. The rule of thumb, according to Tom Morris, is keep it as simple as possible for as long as possible. 

When do you know you need to add another level of structure to your organization?

Here are the three tell-tale signs it's time to add structure:

1)   Bottlenecks and back-ups- Are there bottlenecks & back-ups in the system? Do leaders need to jump through so many hoops to implement an idea, that they become discouraged and stop trying all together?

2)  Burn out and burden carrying- Are there people in your organization that are burning out? They appear to have lost their passion and have no more energy. Do they look like they are carrying around the weight of the world with no hope of change in the near future? They arrive late for meetings, they no longer stay late because they love their job, they stay late because they are less productive.

3)  Broken communication and busted relationships- Broken communication can be as simple as the words we use. You will hear "I" instead of "us".  The fallout of busted relationships hinder the ability of people to work together. Leaders begin to step back from leadership without an explanation; it is easier to walk away than be honest and strain the relationship any further.

When it is time to make changes, the changes should provide clarity, accountability and exceptional performance.

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4 Steps in Creating Value in Non-Profit Communication

One of the most difficult aspects of communication in the non-profit arena is creating value.
Organizations can be extremely good at communicating the facts of how, what and when but when it comes to the the why we fall short. The "Why" is where value is created. Here are four tips in creating value:

1) identify a clear vision and purpose for your communication. If you don't know the outcomes you desire, neither will others.

2) establish the benefits for the consumer. No matter your industry, people always want to know what is in it for them.

3) use words that inspire and create. People want to participate in something that is bigger than themselves. Use words to describe the vision and purpose both factually and emotionally.

4) be clear on how you would like people to respond. Always give clear instructions on the invitation and the response needed to participate.

Great communication is like silver and gold; the rest is worthless.https://twitter.com/JoCannon