Our
Approach
At The Management Center, we believe high-performing
organizations adapt top management practices to fit their
own contexts. Rather than providing one-size-fits-all solutions,
we strive to understand our clients’ unique circumstances
and shape recommendations to fit their needs. Because we
appreciate the real world complexities of managing nonprofit
organizations, we focus on implementation, knowing that
day-to-day realities can make even the best plans difficult
to execute.
How
We Work
We begin our work by forming a partnership with an organization’s
leadership, getting to know each other to assess fit, identifying
areas for improvement, and developing joint goals and a
clear plan of action.
The
core of our practice is helping clients build skills and
structures and put them into practice through a combination
of meetings, observations, and sharing tools and resources.
We then follow progress ongoing, adapting practices as needed
until they work and become habit. We also engage on high-priority
challenges that may or may not fit neatly into our action
plan, serving as thought partners on issues that arise in
the day-to-day. When client needs do not fall within our
areas of expertise, we engage and make referrals as appropriate.
For
instance, we worked with one typical client to develop annual
goals for the organization, create departmental goals and
plans that aligned with the organization’s direction,
and establish meeting structures through which the executive
director and senior managers could manage to the goals.
We then worked one-on-one with the second-in-command to
build his skills around checking-in on his team members’
progress, seeing their work in action, clarifying priorities,
and holding staff accountable for results. Over time, we
coached him around how to retain his highest performers,
transition out lower performers, design a new structure
for the Executive Office, and hire several great new staff
members for key roles. We now meet monthly to reinforce
progress and engage around key management challenges as
needed.
The
depth and intensity of our work depends on the client’s
level of interest, needs, and competing priorities. Regardless
of how extensive our initial engagement is, we view our
clients as long-term partners with whom we might return
to work over time.
Who
We Work With
We work with progressive organizations for whom management,
rather than other organizational needs (such as executive
transitions, strategic planning, or fundraising), is a top
priority. In selecting clients for longer-term work, we
assess the leadership’s level of interest and commitment
to practice, the organization’s potential for impact
in the progressive sector, and opportunities for learning
related to our own practice.
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