Lessons Learned as an Executive Director
I wanted to share some of my lessons learned serving for the last three years as the Executive Director of SCAN (Social Community Activities Network).  As a result of this experience, I have become a better consultant and very humbled. Here are my lessons learned and my belief about what leaders need to do either directly or through their team members.

• Need leadership skills and the ability to make the hard decisions
• Be passionate about what you are doing
• Be a good listener
• Stay up on developments in your field of interest
• Ability to work with a diverse Board
• Create a strategic plan and work it
• Value and grow the agency's staff and volunteers
• Deliver great customer service
• Manage from a database / system with a good Rolodex and the ability to provide outcome measurements
• Embrace technology
• Be able to fundraise (cash, goods, services and professional volunteers) so the agency is fiscally sound
• Be able to close the deal and deliver
• Build collaborations (do not duplicate services, let your partners shine)
• Know the rules of the game
• Be respectful of all at all times - say thank you and be sincere
• Have a succession plan
• Put your needs out into the universe and they will come back to you
  

I am available to do training, technical assistance and workshops both locally and nationwide.

Upcoming Events
The National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) is having its 2016 Annual Training Conference, June 1-3, 2016, at the Mirage  Las Vegas, NV. Click here for more information.