I have not had the H1N1 flu. I hope to keep it that way. However, this flu is starting to really affect me because of the number of people who are not so lucky.
As an example, in just the last week:
- I attended two important meetings where key participants were missing in action.
- Three training events and webinars were canceled.
- A professional associate stayed home with his son for several days.
Two days ago we had to scramble to replace the speaker for one of our own training events. That really brought this home.
Scramble really describes the activities. There were many emails sent looking for a replacement, and the reply often was “I’m already scheduled for another training, meeting, travel…” Fortunately, a replacement was found (who did a great job) and I am grateful for the size and quality of the network of consultants in the Twin Cities. But it’s clear that none of us have any slack in our schedules anymore. All the reductions in staff and hours in the past year have taken their toll, removing any elbow room (if there ever was any to start with).
Contingency Planning
The whole process got me thinking about contingency planning. This is going to happen again and again this year and we all need to be prepared. We have a Disaster Recovery Plan, but it wasn’t developed to address this situation. We need to have a plan for deciding when to cancel a meeting or training, when to use a backup plan, and who to call on for reinforcements. We might need to look around for some elbow room again by scaling back a little on commitments for the next few months.
How are you adjusting to more and more absences caused by this flu? Do you have a clear agreement on priorities and steps to take when you have multiple staff members all sick at once? The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has a number of useful resources and tools, including a list of contingency planning resources and a tutorial on business continuity planning.
As with any planning process, agreeing on the priorities and responsibilities is step one. We’re starting today.
Update: Here is an H1N1 Flu Preparedness Toolkit from the National Council of Nonprofits.
You may have heard that there was quite a ball game last night (coverage here, here, and everywhere).
The state of Minnesota (including yours truly) is celebrating a playoff berth for a plucky squad of baseball players, assumed out of the running after All-Star slugger and 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau’s season ended on September 16th. But contributions came from unexpected places and the Twins went 17-4, winning their last 5 games including last night’s tie-breaker.
Yesterday, looking forward to the game, I started thinking about what nonprofits could take away from this transformation.
Put On Your Rally Cap
At Nonprofits Assistance Fund, we have been encouraging organziations to consider new ways to generate revenue and/or trim expenses to build a sustainable business model in this economy.
Morneau was a major run producer (or income source). And even with him in the lineup, the Twins were barely hanging on. How could the team adjust their strategy (business model) in order to be successful?
On twitter and facebook, I asked what nonprofits could learn from this turnaround, and here are some responses:
- What about an angle on hanging in there like the Twins tied to [nonprofits] in tough times and tackling new approaches.
- That even superstars need to be surrounded by great teams for success.
- Bench strength rules. Always play hard.
- We shouldn’t be overly dependent on one [income] source.
- Lean…They run that org lean. Plus, they’re great with crisis management aka injury replacement moves.
Here are some additional takeaways:
- Use your lineup: The Twins are carrying three catchers because they think that gives them the best chance to win. What do your staff, board, and volunteers bring to the table? Take advantage of your in house skills.
- Be flexible: I think I’ve seen Nick Punto play every position. Jason Kubel, the designated hitter, is now playing full time in the outfield. Are there ways to be flexible with program delivery, fundraising, or communications? Are there expenses that you could defer?
- Play smart defense and don’t commit errors: Make sure that you have the systems in place in order to be successful. Good management systems can prevent and minimize some challenges.
- Swing for the fences: Other players stepped up to produce runs in Morneau’s absence. Make your case to donors, foundations, and the community.
- Be a good sport: Take a note from Brandon Inge and Jim Leyland when things don’t go your way. If another organization receives a sought after grant or contract, be gracious. Focus on the good work that will be done in the community, rather than your disappointment.
- Don’t give up.
One last thought, from Harvard Business’s Tip of the Day - 3 Survival Lessons from Small Business:
Planning. Plans are often outdated as soon as they come out of the printer. Small businesses tend to focus more on planning and less on plans. They watch their surroundings and act accordingly.
Let’s play ball.
This blog is cross posted at Nonprofit Harvest.
