Cooperation
 
I project that we have all encountered an individual worthy of the role of the Commander of the US Lincoln.  We also may have played an unintentional game of chicken with a lighthouse.  How do we perceive ourselves and the enterprise we represents says much about the relationships we build.  Many organizations have beautiful value statements about being an engaged member of the community only to demand a clear path when they take action.  Cooperation may be our greatest asset.  It also may offer us the humility to avoid taking counter-measures against the very object that assures our safety.
“No man can help another without helping himself” 
Ralph Waldo Emerson
*To be fair, the reported naval conversation is apparently urban myth according to Snopes.com

Mine and Yours

I spent a couple hours speaking to representatives from United and Continental Airlines regarding a variety of travel issues triggered by their pending merger.  I was fortunate that all of the representatives I interacted with were noticeably sincere and helpful.  What was particularly illuminating is that most of my conversation included the language ‘us’ and ‘them’.   It makes me wonder, how do you bring two large enterprises together in a sector as competitive as the airlines.  The next round of the operations merger is scheduled for March 2012.  How does the term ‘them’ morph into ‘us’ and a sense being one?

The same scenario is being played out in the social sector as organizations partner, merge, or hand over their programs to another enterprise.  Combining staff, board, volunteers, and donors is not without systemic and cultural shifts.  How prepared is your cause to partner, merge, or even discuss the potential?

Two helpful resources include:

Nonprofit Mergers and Alliances

The Challenge of Inequality

After viewing this talk I am convinced that the social sector may be uniquely positioned to navigate the way, addressing the issues surrounding inequality that Richard Wilkinson’s data reveals.  How do we balance the American dream of opportunity with the stark reality that those who are most well off are leaving those who have the least in the most challenging situation of any developed country?  Are we gathering the huddled masses only to leave them on the other side of the golden door?

New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Emma Lazarus

Patron

Had it not been for Eusebi Güell, famed architect Antoni Gaudi’s genius may have never been recognized.  Gaudi’s philosophy of merging design and nature may have never made it from sketch to structure.  If Gaudi had run around trying to build a tribe of followers he may have stopped designing.  Instead he found a funders who was intrigued with his initial work (a lamp post).  Guell was a true patron who sponsored many of Gaudi’s most daring projects.  He was willing and capable of providing Gaudi with the resources he needed to bring his vision to a reality.  It is a reminder that one key individual can do more for your journey than an entire crowd.  Followers are powerful but patrons are willing to take action and invest because they share your purpose.

Are you seeking followers or patrons?  It is important to understand the difference.

One Thing
Barcelona Street Art

Ever been lost while driving?  Many of us share the same tendencies.  Slow down, sit up a little straighter, turn down the radio, and even hang-up on the person giving us directions (‘I will call you back’).  A friend’s Facebook post mentioned these attributes about her husband, the same ones I exhibit.  But the reality is that it highlights the way we are wired as humans.  We are capable of greatness when we focus on one thing.  Most of us do not want our surgeon watching television while performing a procedure, or a pilot filing their taxes when landing our plane.  We tend to miss a lot of critical steps when we try to cover multiple tasks.  Have you walked into the kitchen and stood dumbfounded by what brought you there only to recall the task ten minutes later?

When execution is essential, it is best to reduce the peripheral distractions and make sure you are navigating correctly.

Strategic Refocus

The brilliance of this camera is that you can go back and adjust the focal point after you have taken the picture.  We usually get the right subject matters in the frame but we do not always focus on the intended object.  It is a great metaphor for organizational planning.  Can the enterprise maintain flexibility to refocus on a priority that may have not been immediately identified during the planning process?  Said differently, how does your cause maintain the dexterity to focus on the right priorities in a timely manner?

Elevator Pitch

Wondering how to perfect an elevator pitch- the brief narrative you would share with colleague to communicate the impact of a social sector organization you support and think they should consider?  Checkout Kickstarter which provides a platform for entrepreneurs to pitch their projects in hope of securing the funding and move from prototype to production.  Short spots that allow those who are passionate about an opportunity to share with potential investors.  Watch a few of these clips and you will get a sense of what works and what flopped.  And you will probably find a project to fund, I know I did. 

Ready for Action?
FC Barcelona Game

Sometimes your job comes down to a few key actions taken during the course of an entire engagement.  If you are able to perform consistently during these moments then there is no concern about what you do during the other 99% of the time.  Not everyone needs to be the front person for your cause, sometimes those who are uniquely positioned to act on the enterprise’s behalf are best in a different looking position.

Volunteering Passion

My son is a huge fan of the book titled, The Name of This Book is Secret.  The first book turned into a five part series and the author Pseudonymous Bosch created a culture of secrecy around his true identity, even going on tour and appearing on national TV in disguise.  The relevant part of the story for those not looking for a young person’s book recommendation is that Pseudonymous Bosch got his start by volunteering.  He offered to be a unidentified pen pal for an elementary school writing exercise.  The student wrote a paragraph and the unknown adult authored the second paragraph. The pattern continued until a story was completed.  Only during this leap into volunteering did Pseudonymous Bosch realized he had a joy and talent for the youth mystery genre.  An opportunity to volunteer turned into a career and a journey to share his craft on a much larger stage.


Sometimes volunteering is an opportunity for a person to try a field of work without committing to employment.  By providing a volunteer position we may be cultivating the talents and enthusiasm of a prodigy or helping a person assess their interest in a field.  The organization and the volunteer may be involved in doing each other a favor which has more depth than can be readily seen.