Author: whatifconcepts

Empowering those that inspire so they can excel at the work that matters.

Highlights

On most nights ESPN gets more viewers watching highlights of completed games than there are viewers of the actual live game.  ESPN condenses the game into a few video highlights and some graphics.  The format of the clips are almost predictable.

Are there opportunities in the social sector to play the highlights to a receptive audience?  Can your enterprise present clips of the most profound moment’s in your organization’s portfolio?  The game needs to be played in order to create highlights but there is an audience who wants the synopsis.

Peer-to-Peer

A fascinating trend is taking place.  One that has been used by some segments of the social sector for years.  Independent Schools, for example are asking parents to host coffees with prospective parents who are in their same social circle.  The intent of these small group gatherings are to allow the host to advocate for the organization.  Schools no longer rely on just the Admission’s Office to be spreading the good word.  They see measurable results in having a person close to the enterprise speak directly with a potential parent.  The connection is authentic, personal, trustworthy, and direct.  It speaks to the value of a customized recommendation.  Fundraising consultants have been using this technique for years.  They send out two key individuals from the organization to connect directly with prospective donors.  Not just any two individuals but those who map directly to the donor.

Who are you asking to represent your cause?  Do they have an existing relationship with the person they are meeting?  Would you interrupt your dinner to take a cold call from a salesperson?  Would you interrupt a meal if a friend was ringing the doorbell?  We all make these choice everyday, why not tap into the power of the network?

Your Experience or Mine

I just received an email from our local car dealership imploring me to complete an online survey from the national auto manufacture and give the highest scores for my service experience.  I received a follow-up call asking what scores I might give on the survey.  All this energy being invested in coaching me to award the highest scores because this is the metric that the auto dealership is assessed.

How about taking the same resources and energy to enhance my experience?  The Four Seasons Hotel does not call me asking how I might complete their surveys, they just offer the best experience and let their actions serve as their calling card.  What are you measuring and how?  Is it in the best interest of your customers?

Check Engine Light

How do you know when your organization needs some maintenance?  What are the warning signs?  How can you be proactive?  How often do you assess the health of your cause?  Do you use self-assessments?  Do you engage professionals to review your enterprise’s standing?  Which metric are important?  Do you discuss the organizational health at board meetings?  Do you perform exit interviews of your board members, staff and volunteers?

What is most important to your organization?

What-if

What if you had a wait list of potential board members to join your organization?  What attributes would be most important?  How would you screen the candidates?  Would you consider chemistry and collegiality?  How would you prioritize?  How would you engage those who you could not find space for on the board?  What changes do you need to make to your current recruiting process to develop a wait list?  Is you organization inspiring community members to seek you out?

Preheating

Quick experiment in the kitchen.  Prepare to bake some cookies.  Preheat one oven and leave one off.  Try baking a tray of cookies in the oven that was not preheated.  In the preheated oven bake the cookies as instructed.

Which oven turned out the better cookies?  Which was easier to monitor when it was done?  How much longer did the cold oven take?

If you confirmed that there is some advantage to preheating an oven, then how do you bring the concept to your organization.  How do you get board members energized to attend a board meeting in advance? How do you get new board members prepared to participate meaningfully at the first meeting they attend?  How do you get volunteers enthusiastic before they reach their first assignment?  How do you energize staff about a new program or project?  How do you prime donors before you arrive to ask them for a contribution?  How do you create anticipation before your causes big gala fundraiser?

Preparing the environment to be receptive to a positive outcomes produces extraordinary results.  How are you preheating your enterprise to succeed during it most important moments?

Hope

At a nonprofit and foundation conference hosted by ClearRock Capital the idea of the social sector being a source of ‘hope’ was raised by fundraising consultant Clare Swanger.  She suggested that the nonprofit sector should be building missions and visions that inspire and build hope.

Does your organization focus on hope?  How is it received?  Does it empower your conversations?  How does it impact your guiding principals?

Hammock

Marketplace on American Public Media introduced an interesting concept today.  Speaking about the transition of Larry King’s time slot on CNN, media consultant Michael Castengera discussed the hammock theory.  Recent ratings demonstrate Larry King’s show started with more viewers than stayed with him throughout the duration of the program show.  As the next time slot began the number of viewers increased.  Larry King’s decline after so many successful years of owning the time slot is not germane to the concept.  What may be applicable to your enterprise is the idea of measuring the retention of an audience during and between programs.  How do you measure success?  Is retention a meaningful metric?  Do you have programs that produces a hammock shape?

Disguise

If your cause is the best kept secret in town, are you creating the secrecy?  I passed a bookstore in the airport last night and wondered what was the point of this marketing campaign.

Is the point to sell a book?  Then what it the title and who is the author?  Is the intention to hook a customer into a frequent buyer program?  Is the concept that creating a veil will encourage a potential buyer to pick-up the book and remove the temporary jacket?

I am not sure what the outcome of this campaign will be but I felt more confused than inspired.  How do you remain certain that your efforts are creating transparent communications?