5 Strategy Questions for Nonprofits

Glenn Tecker and colleages have written in The Will to Govern Well about four primary questions (and one “wrap around”) that help Boards govern with knowledge.  Those questions help provide a framework for data gathering and analysis to be used in planning.  In general, they are:

1. What do we know about the needs, wants, and preferences of our members and/or stakeholders that is relevant to this issue?
2. What do we know about the evolving external context that is relevant to this issue, and how that might impact planning?
3. What do we know about the strategic capacity (and position) of our organization that is relevant to this issue?
4. What are the ethical implications of our choices?
5. Then there is a fifth question:  What do we wish we knew, but don’t?

These questions are designed to move an organization from “information and data” to “knowledge.”  They are quite effective in moving Boards from operations to strategy as well.  The issue then becomes, what to do with what you know in terms of action?  And further, what do we do when there are 20 good ideas on the table, but we can really do only two or three of them?

Character Development

This is a summary of an article at terribleminds by Chuck Wendig.

Set the Character Logline.

Describe the character in 140 characters or 23 words or less. What do I really need to know about him?

Identify the Character's Problem.

Shorter is better. You may have included the problem in the logline. This is why this character is here. This drives the plot.

Identify the Character's Solution to the Problem.

This is his solution, not yours. The character will try to use the solution to solve his problem.

Establish the Conflict.

This is the inherent conflict between the Character's Problem and the Character's Solution. Obstacles abound.

This is the difference between what the character wants and what he cannot have.

Identify the Limitations.

Limitations are generally internal. They get in the way. They are part of the conflict. Limitations help define the character's traits. They might be flaws or frailties.

Identify the Complications.

Complications are usually external. They are entanglements outside the character that make things difficult.

Identify his Greatest Fear.

This is useful to torment the character later on.

Write a Character Description

This is a lot like a logline and all of the above are description. Keep it short. 140 characters or less. Focus on the unique or odd characteristics.

Take a 1000 word test drive.

Write a piece of flash fiction to see how he acts. Have him talk to people. Give him a new problem. Get inside his head.

Now, Rewrite the Logline.

You idea of him may have changed.