Nina Buik, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP

Before you can go into narrative management, you need to understand a few facts about what information is being shared: 1. How much of what is being shared is actually what was originally transmitted. 2. Explore why the misinformation is being shared. What could the underlying agenda be for the person sharing it. 3. Once you have additional facts, set up a meeting with the person who started sharing the misinformation. It may go like this, "How do you think the project's going?" The answer to this question will serve as a starting point for the dialogue that will follow. 4. When you can get to the bottom of 'Why', ask the individual if they would be open to a joint town hall or team meeting to clear up the confusion. Get buy in!

In my years of experience fundraising for non-profits, the most important lesson I learned was ‘it’s not about me’ no matter how passionate I may be for the cause. Shifting to the donor’s ‘why’ and ‘what’s in it for them’ is a far more effective strategy. When people buy or invest in something, they want value. Once you tap into that, your fundraising efforts will exceed expectations.

While it may sound easy, taking time to be self-aware of the following is a very important and necessary first step in the transition journey: - skills inventory and gap analysis - How do I ‘show up’ (authentically or like a chameleon) What energy do I bring? - Am I curious with the intent to learn? - Do I have a sense of purpose around the opportunity I’m looking for? - Do my social media posts reflect my authenticity?

In my experience, great story-telling has been the best way to highlight innovation featuring the creators as well as the beneficiaries. Start with the inspiration then the perspiration (sweat equity) and end with the realization of the solution.

When leading a remote team, I found that frequency and clarity of communication with the team as well as the individuals works well. We would also have virtual team building sessions that were fun and inspiring. Working from home can be isolating. When the team member begins to withdraw, they lose interest and could try and pull the team down. As a leader, be curious and ask lots of questions to make sure you have your finger on the pulse of your team. While some thrive in remote-working environments, it isn't for everybody.

Even the best thought leadership posts can go unseen without a strategy for sharing including: 1. Tagging people who would benefit 2. Sharing with relevant groups 3. Asking for reader engagement 4. Linking to from other social media platforms The content must provide value and validation. The voice should reflect that of the writer even if ghost written or you will lose credibility. Lastly, the content should be concise omitting irrelevant fluff.