Prioritize and Focus | Applied Wisdom for Nonprofits

Prioritize and Focus

Episode 06

Prioritize and Focus Podcast

Nonprofit boards and staff teams must prioritize and focus on the most important decisions and tasks. Taking time to plan creates a useful rhythm and routine.

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Board priorities

Nonprofit boards have three primary governance responsibilities. Priority one is setting strategic direction. Second is ensuring adequate financial and human resources. And third is providing oversight to fulfill the nonprofit's mission.

Part of a board's value is its ability to take the long view. Being a thought partner to the chief executive offers your nonprofit a broad range of perspectives. Recruiting a diverse board with a variety of functional experiences from different industries and among different stakeholder groups will produce a healthy mix of viewpoints, advice, and counsel. The chief executive and the board chair should prioritize and focus on the most important decisions to be made.

10% for planning

Planning to implement a nonprofit’s vision and strategy requires looking at both the short-term and the long haul. I always urge staff teams to spend at least 10% percent of their time each week planning to prioritize and focus on the important tasks. Taking time to plan and confer creates a useful rhythm and routine. Stepping away from the daily grind challenges you to slow down, reflect, and adjust your plans as needed.

“You must plan to succeed. And you must plan… to succeed!”

— Jim Morgan

Prioritize and Focus chapter information

You must plan to succeed. And you must plan... to succeed!
— Jim Morgan

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