093: Buses and Boats and RVs, Oh My!

093: Buses and Boats and RVs, Oh My!

Author: Jess Birken, MNM, JD August 24, 2023 Duration: 23:51

Hi there, fellow nonprofit champions! In this episode of Charity Therapy, we're diving deep into the tangled world of strategic planning and how to lead a nonprofit team without losing your sanity. 

Our guest is Avi Olitzky, a rabbi-turned-nonprofit consultant, who's an expert at guiding nonprofits through the process of creating a strategic plan that's fresh, innovative, and tailored to your nonprofit. He breaks the process down into four key stages - discovery, synthesis, ideation, and outcomes - and focuses on empathic listening and innovation every step of the way.

But that's not all! We also explore the challenges of leading a creative team and the frustrations of having a vision without follow-through. I promise we're going to help you out here. We'll explore effective leadership strategies, including Jim Collins' concept of having the "right people on the bus." And we'll touch on a little tool called the Kolbe A index that might just be the key to understanding your team better. 

Join us for a hearty conversation brimming with insights, strategies, and practical tips for all you wonderful nonprofit leaders out there. Remember, even in the most serious of discussions, there's always room for a good laugh!

In this episode, you will hear:

  • Avi Olitzky's approach to the often intimidating process of strategic planning.

  • The four key phases of strategic planning: discovery, synthesis, ideation, and outcomes

  • What happens when you don't have the "right people on the bus" 

  • The power of understanding your team better through tools like the Kolbe A index

  • Why having the right people on the team is just the beginning

  • How you can create an environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated

  • The power of empathic listening and innovation. 

Resources from this Episode

Good to Great by Jim Collins: www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996

Traction by Gino Wickman: www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837

Kolbe A Index: www.kolbe.com/kolbe-a-index

Link to Avi's website: www.olitzkyconsulting.com

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Facebook page: www.facebook.com/birkenlaw

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.


Ever find yourself wishing for a direct line to seasoned nonprofit leaders, a chance to unpack the real challenges that don’t make it into the glossy annual reports? Charity Therapy is that conversation. With host Jess Birken, who brings her background as a lawyer and a Master of Nonprofit Management to the table, each session feels like pulling up a chair with a trusted advisor. The discussions move beyond theory, tackling the granular details of operations that leaders actually face-whether it’s navigating a tricky IRS compliance question, rebuilding a fundraising strategy from the ground up, or managing the complex interpersonal dynamics that define any mission-driven team. This podcast digs into the operational heart of the sector, offering pragmatic insights you can apply directly to your own work. It’s a resource built on the understanding that running a nonprofit is a continuous practice of problem-solving, and Jess guides these explorations with clarity and a deep respect for the work. Tune in for honest dialogue that treats the daily grind of management as the serious and nuanced craft that it is.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Charity Therapy
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