What Running and Staff Training Have in Common

I'm not a runner by nature.

In fact, I only run because it helps me sleep better.

And because I'm not a runner, sometimes I need a little extra motivation to lace up my running shoes.

That's why I sign up for one or two 5ks each year.

Those races give me something to work toward.

And once I have a clear vision and goal for the race, I begin to schedule time for my practice runs and keep my activity levels up.

It's like that with your organization too.

Your staff may not be training to run in a race if you haven't told them you signed them up to participate.

That's why I always say, start with a clear direction - your vision and goal for your organization. What is it that you need your organization to achieve?

Then, ask yourself what actions people need to do to achieve that goal.

Once you've identified the actions you need people to take, you can create the right experiences - or training runs - so your staff are prepared to go after the goal.

Hear more about setting a clear direction and creating the right experiences for your staff in my episode on the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership podcast with Mary Hiland.