5 STEPS TO FIND YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL VOICE (Or helping board or staff find theirs!)

Knowing what to say when you meet someone is often difficult.  When what you want to say is something about the nonprofit with whom you are affiliated, it becomes even more fraught.  For board members, especially, there is always that fear that you won’t remember how many people you serve, how you go about doing what you do, the year you were founded, and so on.

Here’s the good news.  You actually don’t need any of that.  Indeed, droning on about programs, your history, statistics generally makes your listeners eyes glaze and their ears shut right down.   

Forget that stuff and focus on what will get your listener wanting to know more.

Here are 5 steps to do that:

1.   Tap into your passion.  Why are you involved?  What draws you to this organization?

2. Share a value that matters to you and explain how your organization exemplifies that value

3. Think about a quick story that made you cry—or brought a big smile to your lips and share it

4. Tell them what happens when all the stars are aligned?  In short, what changes for the better because of your organization?

5. Turn it around—ask them what matters to them.

The other great news is that you don’t have to (a) follow all these steps and (b) there is no right or wrong way to ask these.  You can start with #5, go to #2, back to #3.  Or go in some other order.  What matters here is that you are speaking from your heart.  And that is the best way to find your organizational voice and speak with authority and enthusiasm about your favorite nonprofit.