I had no idea how much ritual there is in the game of volleyball! I loved what I saw because it demonstrated key elements to any successful, top performing team, including your own corporate or manufacturing business unit.  

. . . Read more to learn about 10 elements of a high-performing team that you might learn from your local volleyball team.

by Mark Sturgell, CBC

Discover your unique capacity to lead in this five-month ICL intensive program of workshops, coaching, and peer learning.  Develop a leadership style that takes advantage for your unique personal traits. Be ready to tackle any situation through greater awareness of your individual strengths and confidence to impact others.  Develop life-long leadership skills to create productive teams, address conflicts, and build the trusting relationships we all need to succeed.

The 2011 -12 program starts October 2011 near Cleveland, OH .  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the program is at capacity (we are currently almost half full) or until the Apps Due Date of August 12, 2011.

Leading From Within is a five-month program that strengthens your leadership skills and increases your effectiveness as a leader with others, within your organization, and in group settings.

ICL’s unique approach gives you the tools and support you need to see real changes in the way you lead and the impact you have.  The Program offers an exciting blend of workshops, a 360-degree assessment, self-reflection, opportunities to practice new techniques, learning from peers, and one-on-one time with a coach to help you increase your leadership awareness and skills.

By the end of the two sessions you will:

    Know your leadership strengths and how to use them,
    Have a greater impact as a leader in one-on-one, group, and organizational settings,
    Choose your actions strategically from a place of centeredness, rather than reactivity,
    Develop a toolbox of skills for effective leadership in a variety of situations, and
    Address current leadership challenges that you are facing.

If you’re ready to grow your potential, Leading from Within will be the turning point in your effectiveness as a leader

http://www.icl.org/programs/signature-intensive/leading-within

Organizations that confront crises head-on can ultimately strengthen their purpose, forging new and powerful strategies.  A strategic planning process can help organizations get creative and concrete about the strategies that will help them better succeed.  A strategic planning process should encompass six steps:

1:  Clarify the problem or opportunity
2:  Outline the process for developing and selecting strategies
3:  Establish criteria for success
4:  Brainstorm, prioritize and select viable strategies
5:  Articulate clear, measurable action plans
6:  Define ways to measure progress and success

While employees may advocate for changing the direction, a living strategic plan with updated action plans will continue to clarify and support the vision.  The strategic plan along with the wisdom from accumulated experiences and skills will enable the leader to keep employees focused on their collective mission.

More: http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/resources/managementleadership/strategic-planning-organizational-success

A survey for the 2010 Cone Nonprofit Marketing Trend Tracker suggests that partnerships with trusted businesses help draw attention to nonprofit causes and are more likely to make consumers feel good about the causes and actively support them.

Strategic corporate partnerships can help nonprofits stand out and create new, loyal ambassadors.  Leading nonprofits are taking advantage of this to transform their missions into breakthrough cause brands and to rally new supporters with a compelling call-to-action.

To read more about this study, click here.