Peter Zehren: Nonprofit Management and Leadership
I was humbled at the 50th Annual AFP International Conference in San Diego by one of the youth keynote speakers.
Bilaal Rajan has done more in his 16 years to help the world than most of us will do in a lifetime. He began fundraising at the age of four and traveled and spoke around the world. But it was his words that made me stop and reexamine the way I think.
Listen to Others
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Part of an exercise in Rajan’s book Making Change is to ask members in a group which animal would best carry a package over different terrains. He points out the answers others come up with may not agree with yours…listen. Hear what others are saying. It is a reminder to all of us to examine other methods and other paths.
Whether we are courting major donors, building networking relationships or helping establish trust in our board or community of stakeholders, when we remain objective to others ideas it challenges our preconceived thoughts. Not only about how to do things, but why. Why use a goat to take a package traversing mountain terrain when an eagle can soar over swiftly?
A New View
Go somewhere you’ve never been, like a workshop or a Business Networking International (BNI) meeting. If you’ve never been to an HO train collectors show, try it. Check out a poetry reading. I’ve attended meetings for the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) even though I don’t know the first thing about investing.Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
This picture with my brother and colleague is of the bug room at the Field Museum. Any of these will stretch your perspective.
Once you step outside your comfort zone you start to see a whole different point of focus. I’ve found after a stretch like this that even the vocabulary I use in posts and reports is much richer.
Turn off the Sound
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sit in a busy place or even a smaller meeting and block out the sound. Look. Examine how people are communicating with their bodies. Nonverbal communication from how we shake hands to the clothes we wear is a large part of relaying messages.
Think about what messages you’re sending. How you use your movement, eye contact and expressions to communicate your thoughts and views. Underscoring a phrase with a smile can pack an incredible impact. Challenge yourself to add nonverbal cues to your verbal messages.
What ways do you challenge your thinking?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
