Winter Solstice - forest with snow-covered evergreen treesThe winter solstice will be at 4:48 on December 21st. This is the longest night of the year. Plants go dormant, animals hibernate, snow lays a quiet blanket over the land. This is a good time for stepping out of the fast lane and giving yourself time for reflection.

ResilienceMay is Mental Health Month. Even before the pandemic, human resource directors were writing about "toxic culture" and "presentism". What happened to people loving their jobs?

During the last two years every workplace has experienced some level of disruption. Employees are recalibrating their home/work/life balance either voluntarily or because of unforeseen circumstances. What is an employer to do?

Here are four ideas that will not cost you anything:

Like human development, nonprofit capacity progresses in stages...the challenges of a start-up will be quite different from the challenges of a mature agency. A Lifecycles approach to building capacity gives you a starting point no matter your organization’s size, age, area of focus or budget. Right-size your operation for maximum impact!

The Nonprofit Lifecycles

Nonprofit Lifecycle

Poverty Rate by Municipality in New York State

It is easy to blame people who live in poverty for not living up to middle class standards, but it is unfair. The stresses of poverty are pervasive and debilitating.

Many employers of minimum-wage staff are frustrated by difficulties recruiting employees and high rates of turnover. Employers in the "helping professions" of elder and disability care are especially hard hit as they are dependent on Medicaid funding which has not kept up with operational expenses. Many landlords are juggling cash flow to account for renters protected by the eviction moratorium.

The Golden Circle

Every organization needs to define its fundamental purpose, philosophy, and values. The mission statement clarifies the essence of organizational existence. It describes the needs the organization was created to fill and answers the basic question of WHY the organization exists.  A mission statement provides the basis for judging the success of the organization and its programs. It helps to verify if the organization is on the right track and making the right decisions. It provides direction when the organization needs to adapt to new demands. A powerful mission statement attracts donors, volunteers, and community involvement.

Introvert vs. extrovertAfter more than a year in relative solitude, naturally extroverted people are thronging to bars and ballgames, eager to reconnect with their friends - and frankly - total strangers as well. Extroverts thrive amid the swirl of social life and networking opportunities. Extroverted people spend relatively little time listening to others and reflecting on what they have experienced. Characteristically introverted people spend a lot more time with their own thoughts. They are usually observant and good listeners, and may be better at synthesizing complex situations.

corona virus image

This time last year, no one could have imagined the 2020 that actually happened. I am thankful that I have not gotten sick, and all my family are coronavirus-free. However, we do have friends who got COVID-19 and were laid low for several days.