Nurses are a vital part of our healthcare system, and we all benefit when they are supported through policy, data and innovation. It was an honor to deliver the keynote at the NCBSN annual conference in Chicago last week on “Measuring Impact.” NCBSN speaks on public health matters, advocates for critical public policy, regulates the profession of nursing and creates solutions for a better tomorrow.
*Special thanks to Erika Shoffner of Shoffner Consulting Group who authored this article
Many leaders recognize areas for growth but struggle to take the first step. While your leadership perspective is essential, it’s crucial to remember that your employees’ experiences are equally important. Their diverse roles, tenure, and individual backgrounds shape their perceptions of the workplace in unique ways. This means there's often a misalignment between your understanding of the company culture and the reality experienced by your team.
Instead of relying solely on your instincts or generic leadership programs to solve this complex challenge, consider a data-driven approach. An organizational assessment can provide invaluable insights into your workplace's strengths and areas of improvement. By understanding your employees' perspectives, you can make informed decisions about where to focus your improvement efforts.
Organizational assessments go beyond simple surveys; they offer a comprehensive analysis of your workplace culture. They can uncover hidden challenges, identify areas of high employee engagement, and reveal patterns that might not be apparent through casual observation. By delving deeper into the employee experience, you can uncover opportunities to boost morale, increase productivity, and foster a stronger sense of belonging.
Remember, a successful workplace is built on a foundation of trust, open communication, and employee well-being. By prioritizing your employees' perspectives and taking action based on their feedback, you can create a more positive, productive, and sustainable work environment for everyone involved.
These confidential and anonymous assessments support your efforts in a number of ways;
Employees often hesitate to share their honest feedback with leadership due to various reasons. Factors such as job security, fear of retaliation, or simply discomfort can hinder open communication. Additionally, each employee's experience is unique, influenced by their role, department, and tenure within the organization. Organizational assessments provide a valuable tool to gather this diverse range of perspectives and present the information in a clear, actionable format.
Determining where to focus improvement efforts can be overwhelming. With limited time and resources, it's easy to feel paralyzed by the sheer number of potential changes. An organizational assessment provides a clear roadmap by identifying the most critical areas for improvement and by discussing which are most important to your employees. By prioritizing issues based on their impact, you can strategically allocate resources and achieve tangible results.
Employees are the true experts on the workplace experience. They possess invaluable firsthand knowledge of challenges and opportunities. By being transparent about the assessment, sharing the results with the workforce and involving employees in the solution-finding process, you tap into a rich source of innovative ideas. Collaborative efforts to develop and implement action plans not only drive positive change but also foster a sense of ownership and engagement among your team.
Organizational assessments are adaptable to fit your unique needs. While there's a general framework, you can tailor the process to align with your company's values, leadership principles, or specific goals. Typically, these assessments are conducted in group settings of 10 to 15 people, but one-on-one interviews can also be effective.
From assessments to planning, facilitation to retreats, NTC and our team of talented partners are here to help you translate your vision into reality. To learn more, contact us using the button below.
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Erika Shoffner is a consultant based in Central Pennsylvania with 20 years of experience in human resources, business management, organizational development, talent management, facilitation and training. Erika focuses on developing and implementing talent management programs, performing organizational and environmental workplace assessments, leadership coaching and development, facilitation, training and HR support. To learn more, visit Shoffner Consulting Group
Since 1984, CASA of the River Region has trained and paired volunteers to be the voice for abused and neglected children in Family Court. It was an honor to facilitate a strategic planning retreat with the talented leaders of this organization yesterday. I encourage you to learn more about CASA, find your local program, and explore how you can change a child’s story.
3 years ago I was honored to facilitate the strategic planning process for Evansville Goodwill Industries, whose mission is to help people, families, and communities thrive through the power of relationships, education, and work. Yesterday I got to visit with these talented leaders and see their incredible progress as I facilitated their Board Champions Assessment. Conducting a nonprofit board assessment provides a range of benefits that significantly enhance the effectiveness and impact of the board and the organization as a whole.
Board meetings are most effective with a thoughtfully planned agenda centered around mission-focused strategic discussions and decisions. I so enjoyed sharing thoughts on strategies for effective Board meetings at the NTCA Summer Symposium in Savannah this week. As an added bonus, I had the opportunity to facilitate and engaging and informative panel discussion on Board governance with 3 talented Board members.
The Citizens United Court decision helped trigger significant growth in the number and impact of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations. I was honored to co-lead a continuing legal education seminar today for myLawCLE and Federal Bar Association on Social Welfare Organizations 501(c)(4): Permissible activities, obtaining status, and tax implications.
Like any team, most nonprofit Boards will go through periods in which they are clicking on all cylinders and periods in which performance or effectiveness may dip. It was an honor to lead a session on Board Assessments at the NTCA Summer Symposium in Lake Tahoe this week. I also had the opportunity to facilitate a panel discussion on Board engagement and effectiveness. NTCA proudly represents more than 850 independent, family-owned and community-based broadband companies that are building and delivering connectivity and essential services in rural and small-town communities across the U.S.
We are excited to share that we have opened a search for the next great CEO of Great Kids, Inc.
Great Kids, Inc. (GK) creates early childhood education curricula and training for home visiting programs that support families and is an international leader in early childhood development. With three decades of experience in results-driven program implementation and management, they offer evidence-based curricula and tailored training to support successful program outcomes.
Under the supervision of the GK Board of Directors, this position is responsible for setting the strategic vision and ensuring the overall success of the organization. The next CEO will provide strategic leadership to the GK Leadership Team and manage progress toward GK strategic goals. This includes oversight of business development, human resources and staff development, administrative functioning, management of the production and distribution of quality GK products and services, and strong customer relationships.
Please click below to view the full description for this position, including compensation information and how to apply. The deadline to apply is July 22, 2024.
Healthy Boards make time to lift their gaze to identify and discuss long-term opportunities and challenges, so they are best positioned to thrive into the future. It was a pleasure to facilitate a Board retreat with the talented leaders of Walden School. Walden is a K-12 independent school community where all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Their students benefit from personalized learning, hands-on experiences, and connections to nature in an environment that celebrates individuality.
The ecosystem around our organizations changes rapidly, and Boards that routinely survey that landscape and plan thoughtfully for the future are best positioned to excel. It was energizing to facilitate a strategic planning retreat this week in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina with the talented leaders of NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association. NTCA proudly represents more than 850 independent, family-owned and community-based broadband companies that are building and delivering connectivity and essential services in rural and small-town communities across the U.S.
Congratulations to Frank Bennett on being named Executive Director of The Leadership Center, a Program of Kentucky's Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Through my partnership with DCM Associates, I was pleased to lead this search with my colleague Yvonne Styles. The Leadership Center was launched in 2022 to work toward advancing the talent pipeline to support Paducah’s businesses, future economic development and community organizations. Congratulations Frank, The Leadership Center, and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce!
A thoughtfully planned staff retreat fosters team cohesion, rejuvenates energy, and cultivates a collaborative environment. I spent a great day facilitating a staff retreat with the amazing leadership team of West Side Montessori School in New York City. West Side Montessori School is a vibrant, collaborative community of passionate teachers, joyful children and engaged parents. Always great to be back home in NY!
In the dynamic world of leadership, balancing empathy and boundaries is crucial. 🤝 Empathy fosters trust, connection, and understanding among your team, while boundaries ensure respect, productivity, and healthy relationships. Thoroughly enjoyed leading a workshop on “Empathy With Boundaries” with the talented leaders of the Marshall County Public Library.
Lead with empathy, set healthy boundaries, and watch your team flourish! 💼💫
A healthy Board requires leaders who are informed, engaged, and inspired. It was a blast being in Evansville, Indiana last week presenting our Board Champions: Habits and Practices of Healthy Boards workshop. Thank you to Welborn Baptist Foundation for the invitation and also to the tremendous leaders who attended and inspired such a great discussion!
Access to public transportation and mobility options strengthen individuals’ independence and is a backbone for community growth and development. It was an honor to facilitate a Board retreat this week with the team from IndyGo Foundation. The mission of the IndyGo Foundation is to help the community thrive by connecting people through accessible, equitable, and inclusive mobility solutions.
The mission of ACE Mentor Louisville is to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry. It was a privilege to facilitate their strategic planning retreat as these outstanding leaders envision ways to expand and enhance their impact on young people across our community.
As a facilitator, I am privileged to meet amazing leaders and families and learn about their story. The remarkable Plantz family chose to honor the legacy of their son and brother Zac by forming a foundation with a vision to build communities by shepherding the odd man out. The foundation invests in young people by providing them with opportunities to grow academically, socially, and spiritually as they set out to establish inspiring legacies of their own. It was my great honor to meet this special family and facilitate their Board retreat.
Responding to those in crisis requires a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and substance use professionals, individuals, and families. Last week I had the privilege of facilitating a multi-day Board retreat focused on strategic planning with the team from CIT International. I am inspired by their commitment to promoting collaboration and effective training to support communities as well as those experiencing a crisis.
A thoughtful strategic plan includes the ideas and perspectives of Board, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders. It was a privilege to facilitate a strategic planning retreat with the fantastic team from CASA of the Lincoln Trail this past weekend. CASA of the Lincoln Trail provides trained community volunteers to speak for children in court who are victims of dependency, neglect, and/or abuse. If you want to make a difference in the life of a child, consider becoming a CASA volunteer!
When talented leaders with diverse skills, talents, and perspectives gather to discuss their vision for the future, the energy is infectious. Thank you to the incredible Board and CEO of Great Kids Inc for inviting me to facilitate their recent strategic visioning session. Great Kids makes our world a better place for kids by creating early childhood education curricula and training for home visiting programs who support families.