BIG's Blog: Tangents

Executive leadership can be challenging, especially during meetings. It is opinions (which everyone has) that can lead the department away from the goal of a meeting. These tangents can cause leaders to lose focus on making critical strategic decisions.

Too often we … enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.

John F. Kennedy

Does one’s opinion take precedence over really thinking through the issue? It’s possible. Think about this scenario. An executive meeting has been called to discuss a difficult strategic change. Everyone is asked to be prepared to present their ideas on the topic. 

Once the meeting begins, it becomes obvious who has prepared for the discussion. Some individuals present ideas and solutions openly discussing their feelings about the change. Others seem prepared, but instead of addressing the topic, become defensive and try to derail the dialogue. 

Sometimes tangents can be useful. They force people out of their comfort zone and encourage them think about alternative solutions to a problem. A leader must know when to step in and control the discussion and the decision making process. 

When debating important issues, don’t let employees go on tangents that can derail the objective of the topic. Keep the meeting on track by focusing on solutions and not opinions. 

Tangents can be surprisingly useful, but leadership must decide whether to continue or wrap-up the discussions. Valued employees will appreciate a controlled and productive meeting.  

-Gail 

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BIG’s Blog: Mobile Devices, Social Networks and Steve Jobs

Lately, as you my patient readers know, I have begun to write more and more about mobile and social media and its growing role in connecting people and ideas.

This morning I was reading a short piece from one of my favorite writers, Catharine P. Taylor. She is a New Yorker and has daily access to the quickly evolving world that a boy from Nebraska can only see in slow motion.

The following is her recent muse on Steve Jobs importance to Social media and of course mobile.

-Mike

This morning, as I headed into the city for an Advertising Week event, I briefly indulged in one of my favorite absent-minded games: I looked at the people around me in the train car, and in the neighboring car in the tunnel into Grand Central, and took a quick inventory of how many people were looking at their devices.

Over the last few years, this has been a signpost to me of how much the world -- my world, our world -- has changed. The last time I commuted with any regularity --2001 -- there was the occasional cell phone on the train, but it wasn't much of a device. And the laptops people carried with them were utilitarian, those using them immersed in spreadsheets and Microsoft Word. Blah. The iPod was launched within days of my last day as a commuter.

But this morning, as it always is these days, the train was filled with people immersed in their devices -- and, of course, those devices were predominantly the work of Steve Jobs. Many others, like the Android phone I was holding, probably wouldn't have existed without him, either. There needed to be a first company, a first person, to re-envision the phone -- and, of course, that person was Steve Jobs. -Catherine P. Taylor

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BIG’s Blog: Think Social Media is Only Facebook?

Let’s face it; Facebook dominates online time. A recent Neilson study showed users spending 53.5 billion minutes on Facebook in May of this year. Yes; that’s billion with a “B.”

But social isn’t just Facebook. YouTube is the second largest search engine and doesn’t require viewers to log in to view content on the site. How many Facebook postings now contain YouTube videos or other links? And have you noticed Twitter is now really gaining traction and taking off? What do you think of Tumblr?

For some of you, the above is a foreign conversation. I get it. I felt the same way not too long ago and I’m still learning. But, this is really the conversation you should be having in fund raising management meetings. These platforms offer growth.

My off-the-cuff recommendation is to hire younger people in their late 20s with online marketing experience. Even if you are fortunate enough to have someone in their 40s overseeing your online initiatives, make certain they have resources to hire young people as you cannot do this without the perspectives of younger people. To young people today, the online world is not just something they learn for their office job – like direct mail marketing – and then leave it at the office; online is integrated into their social life.

Young people grew up with the Internet and THEY GET IT at a level we cannot.

-Mike

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BIG' Blog: Steve Jobs

It was 1975 and I was driving from Dallas to my hometown in Kansas listening to the radio.

The news story was about a company in California called Apple that had created the first small computer for home use. This new small computer was called Adam. I've never forgotten that.

I knew this was news but wondered what anyone would use this small computer for. Up to that point, computers and the computer programs that ran on them were the provence of businesses.

In those days we hadn't learned the word software yet, or a whole host of new words that spilled into our lives and the lexicon of our culture with the "personal" computer revolution.

And always in the fore front was Steve Jobs.

The other night my wife and I were on a walk and Steve Jobs came up in our conversation. I said to my wife, "Wouldn't it be amazing to pop into Steve Jobs' mind for one minute? He is always creating new products we don't think about before he announces them. And then we can't live without them."

When Jobs introduced the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, they either shifted the technology competition in their space ... think iPod and iPhone or created a new product category ... think iPad.

Just the other night I was wondering what new product Steve Jobs was thinking about now and now his light has gone dark.

Maybe more than anyone else in the last 40 years, he helped set in motion the change in the way we communicate.

-Mike

BIG's Blog: What’s on the agenda?

Webster’s Dictionary defines agenda as "a list or program of things to be done." Why is it that we attend meetings that don’t accomplish anything on the agenda?

Don’t use “Topic One” to recap the last meeting.  Don’t let “Topic 2” be a discussion on what we are thinking about doing in the future.  An agenda should be specific.  Decide to implement a plan (or whatever your project) and state its beginning or completion date.

Prior to the meeting, supporting documents should be sent to attendees for review.  This allows for any questions or concerns to be discussed and agreed upon.  If everyone is prepared a decision can be made quickly. 

The next time an agenda is distributed make sure only action items are listed. The goal of a good meeting is to make something happen. 

-Gail 

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BIG’s Blog: Where You Get Your News . . .

Where you get your news is probably a good indicator of the media people consume most. For nonprofit fund raisers, the question is, "Am I where I need to be to reach potential donors?"

Would it surprise you that there are large age differences in where people get their news? According to a recent Pew Research Center study, the Internet far surpasses television for those younger than 30, but television is still the number one news media for older groups.

Those 65 and older – your core donor demographic – are the only group which cite newspapers more than the Internet as a main news source.

Main News Source (% of Respondents by Age Group)
		Age Group
News Type	Total	18-29	30-49	50-64	65+
National/International news
Television	66%	51%	61%	75%	81%
Internet	43	65	50	36	15
Newspapers	31	24	25	33	49
Radio	19	16	21	20	15
Source: Pew Research Center, July 2011 (Multiple response OK)

Here is my take.

1. Although not specifically mentioned directly in the study, targeting the 65+ demographic with direct mail is still the right way to reach this group. Half this group still read newspapers so they are used to reading long-form direct mail. But with 81% getting their news through television, maybe it would be wise to look again at DRTV. The price of DRTV has dropped in the last ten years.
2. If you want to start reaching the demographics aged 18 to 49, you must be on the Internet . . . period!

-Mike

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BIG's Blog: Time is money.

The email states, “Don’t forget the weekly 10 a.m. meeting in the conference room.” 

We all have seen this message or similar messages. How many of you dread these meetings? Meetings are important, but without focus, can waste valuable time. I bet everyone remembers a meeting where staff seemed unprepared and blamed someone else for their problems. The meeting appeared to be no one person's priority. This is unproductive and expends time.

So, how can managers keep staff and meetings on track? How about shaking things up? Instead of the “same time same place” approach, set meetings on different days and times. Hold a meeting one half of an hour before the office closes. I bet everyone comes prepared and stays on track with that agenda.

My next blog will address the purpose and value of an agenda.

-Gail 

This is BIG’s Blog and yes, by all means forward our blog to your friends and colleagues.

BIG’s Blog: Social Media Facts Nonprofits Need to Know

Last month, Heidi Cohen served up several key insights about social media for marketers. Although her article was targeted to commercial marketers, I’ll net out some of the key insights that affect nonprofit fund raisers.

First, if you want to engage people online – especially younger people – try social media. Social media is not just Facebook but includes YouTube and blogs as well. According to Neilson data, the top three areas people are spending time online are: 1) social media (22.5%), 2) online games (9.8%), and 3) email (7.6%).

Second, don’t even bother unless you plan to integrate social into your strategies and commit to listen and participate, not just give lip service to social media.

Third, don’t assume online adults are just young folks. Usage among older segments has increased dramatically. A recent Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life project showed the following percentages engaged in social media online as of May 2011.

• Ages 18 – 29:  83%
• Ages 30 – 49:  70%
• Ages 50 – 64:  51%
• Ages   64+:    33%

This illustrates that social media is becoming mainstream for communication and interaction.

Fourth, social media’s growth is tied to mobile’s growth. Mobile is defined as primarily Web-enabled phones, but also includes mobile devices such as tablets like the iPad, e-readers, Internet-enabled television and handheld music players. As mobile devices become more powerful, social usage will only grow. People want to communicate with their social media circles wherever they are.

Finally, Core Inc. research shows that consumers are turning to social media for help in making purchasing decisions. Can making a decision to donate to a nonprofit be far behind? The biggest growth area for purchase decision information was blogs. To fund raisers, this is great news and makes perfect sense. Blogs are where you can tell stories, develop a following and continually engage your audience. Today, only 40% of commercial companies have blogs. How many nonprofits? How about yours?

-Mike

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