Bad News is Good News

Introduction

Bad News is Good News is about the power of discovering problems early and often. By the end of this module, you will have reflected on your own relationship to bad news. You will have new practices for early problem detection, and a perspective on how discussing bad news with your board can deepen ties and strengthen your organization.

 

Find Out Quickly - Video

Bad News - Exercise

Porpoising-Exercise

Bad News and your board-Exercise

Full text of Bad News is Good News chapter from Applied Wisdom for the Nonprofit Sector book (PDF)
Full audio recording of Bad News is Good News chapter from Applied Wisdom for the Nonprofit Sector book (MP3)
Conversation starters: Bad News is Good News
Reflection Worksheet and Development Plan.pdf

Course Modules

01

Culture matters. It’s a core organizational asset.

02

Respecting and trusting your people is the foundation of all good management.

03

Always listen for and even seek out signs of trouble. Bad news is good news if you do something about it.

04

Develop “court sense” to see everything that’s happening around you, and to rapidly adjust to changes.

05

Commit to doing “the whole job.” Investing in organizational capacity contributes to excellence and impact.

06

With limited time and resources, it’s essential to prioritize and then focus.

07

Planning is essential but success comes from the implementation of your ideas. “Book It and Ship It.” Make a decision and manage the consequences.

08

To create a culture of accountability, reinforce individual ownership of problems. Always ask, “Who owns the monkey?”