Category Archives: leaders

Work/life balance is pointless without reflection and values


Posted by ajlovesya

work life balance

Sometimes I feel a disconnect between my personal and professional lives and no, not in a work/life balance way. The conversation on work/life balance tends to ignore the importance of introspection and focuses on time and space. Flexible hours are certainly beneficial, but what do they have to do with how I interact with people? How I value relationships? How I view the importance of my work? How I view work period?

Given the fact that most of us experience a work/life blurr, I think we need to shift from focusing on benefits and organizational structure to ensuring that we are living out our values in both spaces. Of course, different environments call for different behaviors-I cant talk to my mom the way I talk to my boss. Yet when it comes to leadership and growth I am uneasy with the idea of there being a Work Allison and a Home Allison especially when the spheres arent always so separate.

A few months ago, inspired by the Happiness Project I began reflecting on my personal commandments: overarching principles that guide my actions and thoughts. While these are things that I have been working on deliberately for months, the beginning of the new year is the perfect time to write them down, share, and invite others to share their journey as well. Here are my personal commandments that I live by at work and at home. Feel free to share yours.

1. Speak up: My tenth grade teacher, my mom, a fellow board member, and my supervisor have all said this to me: You have to speak up. I may know the right answer, have a great idea, or be doing awesome work but it makes no difference if no one knows about it. I’ve always taken pride in execution: I like getting the job done. However mistakes can be avoided and praise can be given if I share what I’m doing with others.

Speaking up goes beyond notifying others; it is also a form of setting boundaries and trusting myself. I need to let people know my thoughts, good and bad, especially if certain actions may help or hurt me.

2. Trust my instincts: My instincts are usually dead-on, yet I tend to doubt myself, and as a result dont act on them. Having good instincts comes from experience and reflection but if I dont act on them I wont refine them or learn to trust myself.

3. Do it now: I have been AMAZED at how much more time I have and how much easier projects are to manage when I sit my ass down and work. Yes, leaving things to the last minute has not resulted in anything tragic and part of me still smiles at those times when I wrote a paper in college right before it was due and still got an A. But when I look closely, I had to spend stressful hours working instead putting finishing touches on things and moving on to the next project (or, taking a nap).

4. Write now: I am a writer at heart. Always have been. The fun story my family likes to tell is how when I was in junior high I was set on going to Columbia University to study journalism, then heading to Oxford to study some more and launch a magazine that would make me oh so famous (if there was a TV show that has this kind of conversation happening, please let me know. I have no idea where I got such a detailed dream from at the ripe old age of 12). Instead of putting off writing, I make time for it, expose myself to different types of writing, in addition to writing when it the mood strikes me.

5. Own my expertise: Back to number 1-the not speaking up thing is also a result of my not trusting myself. What do I know? More than I give myself credit for. And there is a way to speak knowledgeably while still remaining open to learning and new ideas. Expert does not mean complete and being able to present and share information effectively is just as important as having the information in the first place.

6. Show up: ::sigh:: I need to get out more. I never regret it when I do.

7. Let go: Some things just werent meant to be. Learning what to pursue and what to let pass or whom to hold on to and whom I should forget is hard. Focusing on what I dont have or too much fuss over what is bringing me down does not allow me to appreciate my blessings.

8. Demonstrate love: Yes, I will bake you cookies just because. Sure, I will pick up a book for you that reminded me of that silly joke we made two summers ago. Absolutely, I will call you and have nothing more to say than “how are you?” and listen. I love you, value you, and appreciate you-I want to show it beyond words.

9. Assume the best: The anger I feel when something goes wrong is often the result of assuming the worst. I assume that the package was sent late because someone was lazy not because that person had an emergency or that I ::gasp:: made mistake. Assuming the worst allows me to dwell on the problem, while assuming the best encourages me to think more creatively: ok this didnt go according to plan, what’s next?

10. Cry and move on: I am a cryer. I like to cry. I feel good when I cry and I denied this for so long. I’m not weak! I’m strong! Oh please. Crying is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of being human.

What are your commandments? How do they affect your work and life?

Thanks to Akhila for encouraging me to be more personal in my posts :)

Photo credit


Is America Hungry for Non-Profit Leaders?


Posted by ajlovesya

Bob Herbert of the New York Times offers a compelling analysis of last week’s election results:

Our leaders in Washington seem entirely out of touch with the needs, the hopes, the fears and the anxieties of the millions of Americans who are out of work, who are struggling with their mortgages or home foreclosures, who are skimping on needed medication in order to keep food on the table, and who lie awake at night worrying about what the morning will bring. No one even dares mention the poor.

What this election tells me is that real leadership will have to come from elsewhere, from outside of Washington, perhaps from elected officials in statehouses or municipal buildings that are closer to the people, from foundations and grass-roots organizations, from the labor movement and houses of worship and community centers.

The last line really stuck with me.

Of course non-profits can grow to be so large and so powerful that they become just as out of touch as the government. Yet many non-profits are small, often started with the goal of addressing a specific concern in a specific area (leading, often, to charges of redundancy and calls for more collaboration and mergers). Non-profits have felt the impact of the recession not only in terms of smaller budgets but also in terms of increase in demands of services.

So who best to talk about the needs of people than those who watch lines getting longer for the saturday soup kitchen; those who notice more people signing up for free job/resume classes; those who help more people fill out applications for support services; those who have more people visiting the emergency room instead of a doctor because of lapse in health care; those who are offering more programs to teens because jobs are no longer available; those who are counseling adults who are out of work and feeling emotionally vulnerable. These little markers, which get lost in big conversations about problems and progress, add faces and stories to the numbers about unemployment and the social breakdown that follows.

And often non-profits are fore front of this story telling. However, our focus is on telling stories to raise more money to provide more services. The economic crisis has turned us away from the larger picture of social change to focus on the smaller, yet still important issue of survival. In the long term, does this do more harm than good for the people we serve? Is the election a call for us to use our stories for something else?  With our political leaders running in circles, perhaps its time we use our experience and expertise to provide much needed guidance.

This is not to say that a relationship or push for political change won’t be messy or complicated.  For example, in DC while Michelle Rhee was chancellor of education, she developed relationships with foundations that many thought were problematic.  But clearly, there is a space in our national conversation on progress where non-profits are needed and can have a major impact.

What role do non-profits have in guiding the country out of this social and economic crisis?


Want to Lead Your Own Social Change Project or Organization? Check Out the DoSomething.org Social Action Bootcamp


Posted by ajlovesya

One of the requests I often get is for information about launching a nonprofit or social change project.  While I know of several resources for this type of endeavor, I am super excited that DoSomething.org, an organization that empowers young people to take action, has teamed up with Justgood.tv to live stream their Social Action Boot Camp from San Francisco!  Beyond watching the boot camp, you’ll be able to interact with participants and ask questions.  So here’s a great chance to get more information on being a social change agent for a cause you care about.

I’m sharing the live stream here and more details about the event are below.  I hope you find this useful!

Produced by Justgood.tv

Here is more information:

The Details:
When: June 19th (9am to 4:30pm PST; noon to 7:30pm EST)
What: How-to sessions on starting and running your own community action projects or social enterprises

Streaming Schedule:

9:00-9:30: Morning Address from Aria Finger, Do Something, COO
9:40-10:35: Branding and Marketing: How to find your voice and tell your story
10:45-11:40: Becoming a Leader: Team structure and leadership strategies
12:50-1:20: Do Something Youth Panel (Learn from 3 young people running their social change projects)
1:30-2:25: Partnerships: How to effectively partner with both for-profits and not-for-profits
2:35-3:30: Creating a Great Website: How to build a new site or improve your existing one
3:40-4:30: Interviews with young social leaders

Throughout the live webcast programming, there will be opportunities to ask questions to guests and speakers. Just sign on via Twitter or Facebook chat or tweet your remarks to @justgoodtv with #dscamp and our producer will place your questions or comments in queue.

Another post you might like: First Steps in Doing Good for High School and College Students


What to Do about Fundraising on a Board When You Dont Have Lots of Money


Posted by ajlovesya

In our last #ynpchat a participant stated that if you arent willing to fundraise you shouldnt be on the board.  Fundraising is an intimidating part of being a board member, especially to those who dont have a lot of money or a lot of connections.  Participants shared some great insights on what to do about the “give or get” requirement:

@CrookdRiverWmn: Remember that most boards are for small organizations. Big orgs with fancy fundraising balls & corporate contacts are minority.
@gtak: Board service – no fundraising experience & limited disposable income – offer to help research and write a grant proposal
@iaagustin: There’s more to a board than fundraising. Expertise in cause (ie stats & issues) & connections (new collaborations) r imp as well

I would add the following:

1.  Ask about the give or get policy: Some organizations have a minimum amount of money they require while others ask board members to contribute an amount that is personally significant.  Different organizations, at different stages in their development, require different skills and support from their board.  A small organization or start up may need you to do more hands on fundraising–grant writing, event planning, for example–than a larger organization.  The key is asking and seeing if needs are a good match for your skills.

2.  Realize that fundraising itself is diverse: There is an image of a board member with deep pockets simply writing checks and getting his/her wealthy friends to do the same.  However, this isnt always the case.  There is quite a bit of hands on, hard work that goes into fundraising as a board member and what you can provide is actually quite diverse.  For example, can you get in kind donations or discounts?  Plan an event or get your friends to attend an event?  Help write a grant?  Interested in social media or online fundraising?  Also, asking for people to donate, doesnt mean they have to donate thousands of dollars.  We have learned that small amounts can have a big impact, so dont be afraid to ask your peers for support.  What really matter are your dedication and enthusiasm.

3.  Consider volunteering first: If you still find the fundraising aspect intimidating, ask to help the development team.  In addition to getting to know the staff and gaining experience, you can also see what types of fundraising are used and needed–valuable experiences to bring to the board.

When I joined a board last year I asked about the give or get requirement and about current fundraising strategies.  The organization I am on the board of is very small and hands on so I am able to try different ways of raising money in addition to making my own contribution.  Last month I planned an event (which I had NEVER done before) and got people to attend.  What strategies have worked for you?

Recommended reading:  How much should board members give?


June 2: Join Me for a Live Twitter Chat for Young Nonprofit Professionals on Board Service


Posted by ajlovesya

Tomorrow is our fourth twitter chat for young nonprofit professionals and it promises to be an exciting one!  The Washington, DC chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN-DC) will be co hosting and the topic is board service: why it is beneficial and how young nonprofit professionals can find board positions.  And if you’re ready land a board position now, YNPN-DC and YNPN-NYC (which I am on the board of) are both seeking board members!  For more information visit  YNPN-DC (deadline June 13th) or YNPN-NYC (deadline June 15th).

What: Twitter Chat for Young Nonprofit Professionals

Your Hosts: Rosetta Thurman @rosettathurman, Allison Jones @ajlovesya and YNPNdc @ynpndc

Topic: Nonprofit Board Service: Why it’s Beneficial and How Young People Can Get Involved

When: Wednesday, June 2, 12pm-1pm EST

How: Search #ynpchat on Twitter, Tweetchat, Tweetdeck, Hootsuite or your favorite Twitter client!

Background Reading:

We hope you’ll join us and don’t forget to use the hashtag #ynpchat for our discussion!
Join us for Future Twitter Chats
On the first Wednesday of every month from 12-1pm EST you can catch Rosetta and I talking about the issues that matter most to young nonprofit professionals. Mark your calendars for the next conversation and let us know what topics you want to talk about!
  • July 7
  • August 4
  • September 8
  • October 6
  • November 3
  • December 1

We hope you’ll join us and don’t forget to use the hashtag #ynpchat for our discussion!