Mega monster or Many monsters? (Fully integrated or Best of Breed)

I don't think I can count the number of times that I have had a conversation about software that spirals into a conversation of "we need fully integrated" versus "need the best features." This is the conversation that I have always talked about as a single database (fully integrated software) versus best of breed. Best of Breed to me means you pick the best software for each of your distinct business areas then you work to integrate them or build connections to share data.

However, this conversation has always focused on the features of the software. This article from the NTEN:Change magazine has really got me thinking about it from a different perspective, a constituent data perspective.

Data is all the rage again now that APIs are common, visual dashboards run amuck, information rules and everyone needs more numbers to build those cool infographics that we all love (to hate) (but can't stop looking at).

Anyway, here is the thought:

You think through the different types of constituents you will track and interact with, how you will need to use the data and how interrelated they are.  Here is an image that they use to help describe this.

But dont take my word for it, Go read the article from NTEN and then be sure to subscribe to NTEN:Change, the visuals are striking, but I look at it for the articles. They are always fantastic. And if you are looking for a way to convince your CEO or executive staff about the value of tech, subscribe to NTEN:Change for them. They will wonder where the emails come from but they will thank you for the wonderful information.

Tech is not just for techies - a great training opportunity

Is your org struggling with technology? Don't wait for that techie in a shining code of armor. 

Here is a great opportunity from NTEN. I am excited to share it because I will be presenting one of the sessions. This is more than a training it is a chance to change your organization.

Now more than ever, nonprofit leaders must understand the potential technology has to help them meet their missions. They require effective ways to manage technology and lead others to use tools to their best organizational advantage.


The Technology Leadership Academy is a training program designed to help nonprofit leaders do just that.


Thanks to the generous support of Google and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NTEN is able to offer the Technology Leadership Academy at no charge to qualifying organizations. You must apply for acceptance to the Academy. Participants will be selected based on the guidelines below and their commitment to full participation.

NTEN's Technology Leadership Academy Returns for 2012

5 Ways to get Digital Content from Program Staff

Fresh content is a key element of a good website, we have all heard that, right? But a simple concept does not mean it is easy to make happen.

One of my favorite posts I have ever written was 5 secret ways to trick your colleagues into becoming content creators for your website.

I have been thinking about this more and I have a few more thoughts. Even today as technology becomes more common, many people are hesitant to create content for a website or email newsletter. So how do we get this content created?

1. Fill in a printed marketing worksheet - create a simple worksheet in the format of the content that you want them to create. Keep it short and simple.
2. Regularly scheduled collection with feedback - practice makes perfect. Or as my wife says practice makes permanent. This means that if if you practice something wrong , it becomes hard to learn it the right way. So while it is a great idea to gather content from staff of you never provide feedback, how will they improve?
3. Recorded phone call - want a deeper story or article? Get a group of program staff on the call, ask the right questions and let the conversation happen. But don't forget the key part, record it. It is better to record it and take your notes later, that way you aren't distracted on the call.
4. Join their meeting - talk to them on their territory. Don't ask questions, just listen. If you need to ask questions, consider prepping one of the program staff to lead and ask the questions to make them more comfortable.
5. Ask them their story - every staff member has a story about why they work there, why they love the mission or some great experiences. Give them a chance to tell their story.
6. Identify the barrier - staff will always have excuses about why they don't create more digital content. Look past the excuses go find the real barriers, is it the tools, unclear benefit to their work, fear of making a mistake or ??? Then find a way to help break down those barriers.

Yeah, I know there were 6, but consider it a bonus.

How do you get program staff to contribute digital content?

Are we consuming missional? (Inspired by @daveferguson)

Has mission become a commodity? Has it become so transactional, overused, cliche and ommon place that it is just another thing to cross off of our list of to-do's?

I know the focus off my blog is usually tech, but hear me out. And yes, I am building off of a faith based post from my church's pastor, you can read it here: daveferguson.org: Are We Just Consuming "Missional"?

First, I love this thought: "1. Missionary As Identity - If we want the people in our churches to engage in mission we must make sure they understand that being a missionary is not something you consume, it is your identity."

We could all learn a lot from churches that inspire us to not just change what we believe but actually change who we are.

How often do we just work toward or on our mission rather than owning it by letting of become part of who we are? Haven't you ever met that person that just oozes mission? It is like it is who they are. People like @hardlynormal who lived homelessness, @starfocus that lives for wildlife and so many more.

I like to think that I am missionary in my Christian faith, plus the YMCA mission of healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. I like to think that I don't just find technology to help support and  meet our mission, rather I find ways to allow our staff, volunteers and supporters to live the mission. I provide social media to allow their infectious spirit to spread. I work to shift our content on our website to not just promote our services and org, but rather to make the change happen in the people we serve. I look for technology solutions that allow our staff to live the mission rather than fight with tools. I push to have our technology goals tied directly to mission on top of supporting operations.

Yes Steve but you aren't telling us anything new. Well you are right, this isn't new. But it is easy to forget and loose sight of. Takes a few minutes to do a check to see if you are working on your mission or if you are living it.

As the new year starts, I am looking to become more missionary in my faith, work and family life. I don't want to take steps forward. I want to change who I am.

Scoop it for you, Delicious for later, Reader for me.

So it seems that content curation is all the rage, but hasnt it been around since the beginning? You find a good newspaper or magazine article, you cut it out and share with a friend. Right?

Well anyway, it seems that I have jumped on the bandwagon on this one.  I have been having a blast with my sccop.it topic on digital content and nonprofit tech. But I have learned a few things from it already.

TOPIC: Pick a topic that really excites you, not something that will be like work for you to find content on. But even more important, be specific! When you dig for gold, you dont create piles of metal, dirt and other, you create piles of each specific type of precious metals.

FOCUS: When you decide to start curating, you should focus on themes and pay attention to what others like.

PATTERN: Create a pattern of when and how you curate your topic.  You can see mine below.

SHARE: Go ahead and share your curated content on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. HOWEVER! Do not SPAM. Your followers on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook may overlap, but more importantly they are people, not mindless drones. Think through which audience to share with and share selectively, dont just send it to all social networks just cuz its easy.

Well anyway, here is how I curate my content:

1. Subscribe to a ridiculus number of RSS feeds on good Nonprofit, content marketing, social media and other Blogs (most of which someone else curated and told me it was a good blog)
2. As time allows I use Google Reader to scan theses posts. As I find a post that I want to read closer, tag for reference or share with others, I star that entry in Reader.
• NOTE: I almost always scan my Google reader on my phone (on the train or wherever I am just sitting around). The reader app on my android phone rocks. I am able to scan through hundreds of posts quickly, granted I may miss some gems because I base so much of my decision on title, but ehhh.
3. Each Day (yeah, I do try to do this every day):
1. Open Google Reader and pick a random spot amongst all of my starred items
2. Open each starred item and decide what to do with it
• Read again and unstar 
• Take an action like register for webinar or download a file (which is easier on my laptop) and unstar
• Add the blog entry to my Delicious.com account for future reference
• NOTE: i have a new tag of DCSToDo, which is my list of links that I need to get back to soon to take an action
• Scoop.it! If the content fits my topic and I think others would find it valuable.
• NOTE: I dont share everytime I Scoop.it. I only share about 2/3 to my Twitter account and only 1/15 to my Facebook or LinkedIn.

Anyway those are my thoughts on content curation.  The last question that I get all the time is, "How do you like Scoop.it"?  I try not to answer that question too much. The tool is not as important as why and how you use it. Scoop.it fits great into the flow that I have created above, it is easy to use, fast to post to, it is trendy so gets some extra attention, etc. But my favorite part is how the pages are created visually but it isnt overdone. Some of these new visual toys bury the information and make it pretty but useless.

Enabling Program Staff to Become Digital Content Editors

So I have been busy writing a long blog post for NTEN and have neglected my own blog. So rather than write another post, I will just share a link to the blog post on NTEN.

A BIG THANKS to Debra Askanase (http://www.communityorganizer20.com), Jason Dobrolecki and John Oliver people for their help with this article! They read it for me and made it so much better. Thanks!

Here is what it covers:

Elements to enable digital editors:

• Publish metrics (recognition, competition, feedback)
• Establish structure and accountability
• Remove barriers
• Regular training and resources
• Enable individuals while managing the brand

It’s important to note that the type of content an organization wants to publish should be identified by its communications department, and the process for gathering that content (which is what I write about below) should be developed in collaboration between the communications and technology departments.

http://www.nten.org/blog/2011/10/14/enabling-program-staff-become-digital-content-editors

Become a Change Leader - Life gets in the Way part 7

So for the last 6 (or so) posts I have been talking about how life gets in the way and have been living it, which is why my posts are so sporadic. I hope I have shared some ideas about how you can reflect on the past, learn from mistakes, plan for the future, blah, blah, blah.

All of this is useless if you can't make the change happen. So what happens when you aren't the boss? when you dont have the authority to "make it so"?

You need to Become a Change Leader! No, don't worry you wont need spandex, tights or a cape, but that would be awesome!

This will not be an overnight change, but it will pay off. 

Rather than reinvent the steps to your superhero transformation, you should learn from a true Change Leader, Dahna Goldstein. 

Dahna recommends these steps:

1. Become an expert
2. Build relationships
3. Understand your organization’s context
4. Plan and communicate

Yep, just like that and presto! Ok, no not really presto. But the regular tactics wont work, you will need a real plan to become the Change Leader your organization needs.

Read the full article from the Awesome Change Leader, Dahna.

And that will conclude this series that seemed like it would never end because life was getting in the way.