Effective social listening

Saw this headline on an email from the Copernicus Mzine and thought it to be especially relevant in today’s nonprofit world. You have to listen to whomever you are speaking with to ascertain where their mindset is. Are they true believers in what your organization does or are they skeptical of good deeds? Do they want to know how effective you are or would they prefer to hear stories about how you help?

After you hear from them you must ensure that you have an effective speaker that is able to clearly communicate your brand based on what your target needs to know. Sometimes that’s difficult for nonprofits. They are so passionate they want to tell the whole story. It’s not really about that – it’s about the part of the story that will resonate with the listener.

So know who you are talking with and what they are willing to hear. Some messages won’t resonate.

Remembrance

A friend and colleague passed away unexpectedly this week. While floored by the loss, I started to think about how her friends might remember her. She was an accomplished photographer, energetic marathoner, and generous friend. Then I started to think how would I want to be remembered? There are so many organizations that I admire.

So today ask yourself that question. What nonprofits do you admire? Would you like part of your legacy to be a fund started in your name? Do loved ones and friends know this? You might even consider getting something started with a planned giving bequest.

We all want to be remembered. This may be the perfect way to achieve that longevity and continue to do good after you’ve moved on.

(Still More) Tardy for the party

GoooOOod Moooorning Vietnam C2C Followers!! So glad you dropped by for the fourth and final tip that will save your party attending career.

#4: If you can’t say something nice… don’t say anything at all.

All too often I hear, “that event stunk… that event was horrible” (usually phrased with other choice words). Here’s my suggestion; if you think something could be better, get involved—join the committee and offer constructive criticism or start your own committee to create your own super awesome event. But if you don’t have this drive inside you to make a difference then keep your ugly comments to yourself. Next time you want to scream “Ewe” or “OMG,” stop and try to find one nice thing about the event and announce it to everyone around you… positivity is contagious.

Remember, if you follow these simple tips, you will probably become the most popular Jacksonvillian and be invited to every event in town. People will envy your know-how and suave behavior and then you can tell them you learned everything you know from Heather Smith: Eventress Extraordinaire.

Tardy for the party

Proper party etiquette and tips on becoming a model guest

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As Kim Zolciak, the chain-smoking-weave-tastic blonde of Real Housewives of Atlanta, once said “Don’t be tardy for the party… ooh oooh,” and she was oh so right, for once. Big Poppa? C’mon girl! What are you thinking? Nonetheless, after recently organizing an event, I realized: people need to brush up on their party etiquette skills. So I decided to strike back, if you will, in a deeply satiric blog post. I will cure guests of their naiveté, one party foul at a time!

All right, here it goes…

#1: Being “fashionably late” is not fashionable!

I move to rename this phrase to “Self-Important Syndrome.” Now, I’m not saying that everyone who is late to a party or event is self-important, just the chronically late or probably most annoying the excessively late. I understand sometimes issues arise that need to be addressed immediately, but please don’t show up to a four hour event at the end of hour three and expect catering to have saved you a generous smattering of heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Basically what I’m saying is, don’t be upset at the event organizers or vendors because YOU missed out on all the good stuff. After all, you were the one who choose to come down with a case of Self-Important Syndrome.

Check back tomorrow for tip #2: “Plus one” does not mean “bring your entire family.”

Money tight but volunteering up

According to Fast Company Magazine volunteers to nonprofits were up in 2009 to 63.4 million Americans. That’s a significant rise from ’07 (60.8 million) and ’08 (61.8 million). Could it be that there are more volunteers because people don’t have money to give or have time on their hands due to unemployment?

Female volunteers continue to grow to a whopping 30.1% of the American female population. Male volunteerism remains stagnant at the 23.3% of male population mark.

What types of organizations benefit from volunteers? Respondents said that 34% are for religious groups, 26.1% for education/youth services, 13.9% for social or community services and 8.5% for health related groups.