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Hi Everyone,
Am coaching a client who is bidding for the Executive Director position
of a non profit human services organization. Client has worked there
quite a few years, has been in acting Exec Director position for only
two months. Here's the situation:
Client anticipates changes on the horizon as 'Managed Care' becomes a
larger business issue by impacting funding sources and future
partnerships. Board will be going to the 'outside' in their search. In
our coaching session, we have determined client's strengths and
development needs for the position. Major area of concern is weakness in
business knowledge areas, especially on financial side. Client's formal
education includes Masters in Social Work and no courseware in
business. Our strategy is to face the need for some formal business
training and present a Development Plan to the board during the
interview that would indicate how the gap will be closed if my client
were offered the position. Finally, the question:

Can anyone recommend a developmental experience or a program geared to
the identified need? My thoughts include professional development
programs in finance and accounting for non financial managers. Are there
similar programs available for Executive Directors of non profits?
Client is located in Pennsylvania around Philadelphia area and is
willing to travel anywhere in northeast for right program.

Thanks for any and all assistance.
Nancy Haynes
New Horizons Consulting Group
609 829-1152
fax: 609 303-0073

How sad. Sounds like the organization may be focusing too much on one thing.
Will this position have a financial person/position reporting to it?? Is
there a good person in that role?? If yes, then why must this person also be
a business expert. There is SO MUCH MORE to good management than just that.
Good luck!!

Nancy

Contrary to what one contributor has asserted, I believe the Board's
recognition of the candidate's having "no courseware in business" (now
THERE'S a bizarre bit of nomenclature) is well-founded. And having a
financial professional reporting to the executive director does NOT
excuse the E.D. from needing to know enough to judge whether the finance
person is doing their job well or not. And if not, and if the E.D.
doesn't know debits from credits, how on earth will s/he make a decent
hiring decision, except on sheer guesswork?

We don't work w/non-profits, except pro bono. But we see the wreckage
in organizations whose owners didn't know "come here" from "sick 'em"
when it came to financial issues. And that wreckage hurts
everyone--employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders. So, to be
truly socially responsible, managers of social agencies need to have a
lot more than mere mission on their minds.

I'm not sad. As a supporter (sometimes involuntarily), I'm glad.

WDM

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* Warren D. Miller, MBA, CPA-ABV, CMA *
* Beckmill Research/Lexington, Va. *
* "Research Orientation, Results Mentality" *
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