Are you following Best Practice in governance? This term is utilised in many board discussions and is often taken as the ‘way’ of doing things. However best practice isn’t always “best” for your Board, especially when looking through the eyes of a high performing Board. In this video I’ll explain why, from the perspective of a high performing Board…

There are many reasons why an NFP would look to merge or be acquired but like everything, a merger or acquisition is more likely to succeed if you have a plan or strategy to achieve it rather than just hoping. In assessing the viability of a merger or acquisition it’s important to obtain the ‘why’ and the ‘common motivation’ for all in this process…

What does it mean when you are a Treasurer of an Association moving to a Company Limited by Guarantee and then becoming a Director on the Board, and what affect does the role change bring? Before we start thinking about the size and sophistication of your organisation, it’s important to see things from an operational perspective when defining roles…

What does it mean when you are a Treasurer of an Association moving to a Company Limited by Guarantee and then becoming a Director on the Board, and what affect does the role change bring? Before we start thinking about the size and sophistication of your organisation, it’s important to see things from an operational perspective when defining roles…

In a business or work context, the phrase “better to be lucky than good” is one that I have come to associate with. On face value the phrase seems a little comical, but there is a meaning to this and one that I personally align to. In doing this it requires an exploration of what being lucky means versus being good, in the context of business and p…

The topic of Right of Use Assets has come up in several NFP Board and Finance Committee discussions. It causes a bit of confusion, especially when organisations, for example, are used to recognising their rent or lease payments as an expense. In this video I’m not going into the accounting rules, this will be more conceptual, so you can have an app…

What is an “in-camera” session at an NFP Board meeting? In today’s podcast I discuss the; what, who, why, when, and where… of the in-camera session. When executed well, everyone stands to gain from the in-camera session, from the Board, the executive, through to the way the organisation creates an impact. Does your NFP Board meeting include in-came…

As a not-for-profit, are you clear on who your customers and beneficiaries are? In my experience, those that are clear on this perform better overall in terms of sustaining their organisation and delivering long-term impact. In this video we’ll discuss customers and beneficiaries from both a for-profit and non-profit viewpoint. It’s useful to refle…

When I think about the NFPs we work with, I would like to see that their impact endures. That the changes they made, the lives they touched is remember and continues to have ripples long after the NFP ceases to exist. Being in a NFP is about playing to win, while sustainability is more about playing not to lose. So, how do we make your NFP enduring…

Thinking about becoming a Company Limited by Guarantee? In Australia, when an incorporated association is looking to make the transition, each state is slightly different. With that in mind, I’ll talk through the principles involved the overall process, before touching on a few issues for you to consider. Changing to a company limited by guarantee,…

Is Financial Governance something unique to the NFP space? No, but it is needed, and it’s very obvious when an NFP doesn’t have it in place. Financial reports left to organically grow, can turn into lot of reports. This is something that is very painful to deal with at a Board level, so how do we turn these excessive reports into good governance? I…

As the CEO of an NFP, telling your story in meaningful and consistent ways is vital to delivering on your purpose. In this podcast, I discuss storytelling through the language of accounting, and why the CEO, Board and stakeholders should speak it regularly to tell their story. Creating a meaningful story with the numbers on the page may be challeng…

As the CEO of an NFP, telling your story in meaningful and consistent ways is vital to delivering on your purpose. In this video I discuss storytelling through the language of accounting, and why the CEO, Board and stakeholders should speak it regularly to tell their story. Creating a meaningful story with the numbers on the page may be challenging…

Are there too many not-for-profits? Is this causing the NFP sector to be ineffective? Would consolidation improve efficiency in the NFP space? These questions frequently play into conversations. However, let’s not forget, in the NFP space our DNA is all about finding solutions to problems not yet solved. In this video I discuss the consequences of …

How does an independent Company Secretary contribute to a high-functioning Board? Why would a Board consider recruiting an independent CoSec when they can source this role in-house? In today’s video we consider this specialised role from the truly independent perspective, as there are many benefits to an outsourced solution. A governance profession…

As a Board Chair, are there skills you bring to the role other than being able to run a Board meeting? Would not having to run the Board meeting allow you to add more value in the role of Chair? With NFPs being all about innovation, it’s only natural that they would be drawn to solutions that allow the Chair and leadership team more time to what th…

What makes a good Chair? I have worked with many Boards, and I have worked with good and great Chairs. However, never have I come across a Chair able to do the litany of tasks required of a Chair. In exploring the role and responsibilities of the Chair, which is always a much bigger role than it appears on paper, what is the common thread amongst C…

There are several reasons why a Board collapses, and it is never fun when it does. When the majority of the Board decides the situation is untenable and a lot of knowledge and history walks out the door, how do you recover? How do you rebuild? In this podcast I discuss options for consideration, specifically in the NFP space. Bringing back stabilit…

Who is accountable when Boards aren’t performing well? Technically it is the members, but for those working in the NFP space this is not always an effective relationship and can be very nuanced. In this video I discuss situations that affect Board accountability and highlight why it’s important to be proactive. It’s not only when Boards are perform…

We are often asked if we help with NFP Boards that are performing poorly, and this often leads to some interesting conversations. The most common being what defines a poor performing Board and how you accurately judge poor performance. In my experience, looking into poor Board performance can be a very subjective exercise. Here I discuss some insig…

The history of director independence and how we have dealt with conflicts in the past, can assist and guide us in the future. How do you determine director independence in your NFP, and should you? There are unique considerations for NFPs, because they are set up by people who have a personal interest from the start, for example they been affected …

Have you considered the Federated Model structure for your NFP? This week we continue the topic of Federated Models and discuss the benefits and opportunities. I also deliver thoughts on when and why, NFPs don't merge. While federated models can be a joy for some and frustrating for others, it is important to obtain clarity on your structure requir…

You can create a powerful decision making structure with a dynamic of three. This week we continue on the topic of NFPs and structure, and focus on the dynamics of the Chair, CEO and Secretary. Regardless of whether you outsource a secretary or hire internally, there are some important factors to consider when it comes to setting up an optimal NFP …

As an NFP with a federated model structure, there are a couple of things to be aware of to ensure success and maintain a meaningful impact. What are federated models and how are they efficient? While federated models can be a joy for some and frustrating for others, it is important to effectively maintain structure to ensure success. If there is fr…

This week we continue with the topic of NFP structures. What are the implications of having an NFP subsidiary? What should you be aware of when thinking of having a subsidiary? In this video I discuss subsidiary structures, how they can occur, what are the implications and the importance of paying attention to the element of ‘control’. Connect with…

The NDIS has ushered in a rapid growth of the not-for-profit space. There are strategies and capabilities to consider when turnover grows from 1 to 10 million, or 10 to 50 million, within two or three years. In this podcast I discuss how organisations, boards, and CEOs might evolve to successfully maintain their rapid growth. I also include the cha…

The NDIS has impacted the not-for-profit space in many ways. One of the challenges for organisations that have fully embraced the NDIS, is the allocation of funding. In this podcast I discuss how you might tackle this strategically, by suggesting a clear separation of your purpose and your allocation of funding. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit…

One of the new requirements for ACNC is increased disclosure - related party transactions. While compliance is important, in this podcast I focus on understanding related party transactions from a governance perspective specifically why and how to implement these changes. Related party transactions are similar in principle to managing conflict of i…

Not-for-profit CEO transition is topic that has come up a lot in the past 12 months. Most people agree there are two undeniable truths regarding the CEO, they are the most pivotal and key personnel in the organisation, and one day the CEO will inevitably leave the organisation. Has your board identified a process for when your CEO moves on? In this…

This is the fourth in the series on governance and culture. Culture is important and it’s something the board need to be aware of and actively managing. In this podcast I discuss how understanding governance tools, can help you affect the culture of the organisation. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have an…

This is the third in the series on governance and culture. Goals have to incorporate: vision, expectations, accountability and responsibility. Watch my video to see how these lead to the alignment of goals and how this helps you manage culture. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the…

Legacy is something you leave behind. Will you leave behind something of value from your time on a not-for-profit board? How can you protect your legacy? Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the process of starting up an NFP, or interested in becoming an NFP CoSec, feel free to contac…

What is board culture? You can't see it, you can’t hold it - how can you effect it or change it? We’ll discuss the motivation of directors, director roles, board charter and how they can affect an organisation’s culture. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit our website rightsource.com.au If you have any questions, are in the process of starting up …

Board charter is also known as Board terms of reference. Board charters should reference the constitution, director appointment, Board meeting details, Board papers, sub-committees, diversity/lived experience on the Board and more. Remember, governance is always evolving, it’s ok to change things along the way. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit …

Today I want to talk to you about recruitment bias and how it plays into the daily running of your business. The cost of recruitment bias needs to be examined in order to make good decisions as you move the business forward. In this episode we look into unconscious bias in recruitment that you may have and general unconscious bias in the workplace …

Are you part of the finance team in your organisation or do you have a finance team? Today I want to talk to you about understanding finance team culture and its organisational impact so that you can make strides towards enhancing your team culture. While the finance culture is just one area of organisational culture, it is an important one. In tod…

Firing a client is never easy and it’s not something any of us ever really want to do. However, it’s important to maintain a profitable business so that sometimes means doing the difficult thing. In this episode I want to take you through my process of understanding when you should be firing a client - tips to determine client profitability. To und…

In this episode I want to talk about paying yourself first from your business and also why, how and when to do it. So, the question is, are you paying yourself first? And if so, do you know how to pay yourself first? If your business is bringing in income and you are doing all the work then it stands to reasons that you need to pay yourself first. …

Personal/professional development training is one of those expenses where it can be difficult to measure in terms of impact and ROI as it’s a long term venture. Personal development training expenses can also eat up a large portion of your PD budget if you aren’t careful. In this episode we look at personal development and professional development …

Finding an accountant can be a daunting task at the best of times. On the one hand there is an abundance of accountants all seemingly performing the same duties. On the other hand, how do you know who to trust? Do they specialise in your type of business? How do you go about asking the right questions when you’re hiring an accountant? I’m going to …

I want to discuss job automation and job loss and what this means for jobs in the future. Globally, It’s already been a wild year and the future of the workplace might feel even a little more uncertain for some. Robots taking over jobs in the near future is a real possibility as we have tasted a crisis that has, for the most part, shut the world do…

If COVID has taught us one thing, it’s that having a business continuity plan is necessary moving forward. In this episode I want you to think about your own business continuity planning for your business and how that has effectively become a business continuity planning process that can now be documented and written into your business systems. Sec…

Would you not-for-profit benefit from some independent research? We’ll talk about the pros and cons of in-house, collaboration and outsourcing. Research helps with advocacy and provides an independent viewpoint to lean on when applying for funding. It confirms the value your organisation is adding to society. Connect with me on LinkedIn or visit ou…

Are you thinking of starting an enterprise here in Australia that has a social purpose? Perhaps starting a social enterprise is something you have in your long term business plan? Well, starting a social purpose enterprise is a little different to starting a nonprofit organisation and many people think they are one in the same. I want to use this e…

It’s a strange time right now in the business landscape and there are very few businesses that aren’t dealing with a business crisis. In this episode I am going to walk you through some tips around how your accountant can help with crisis management. This isn’t the time to shy away because you need business crisis management, it’s the time to have …

We’ve officially moved into an interesting time here in Australia, as well as globally, where working from home and flexible working arrangements have been enforced. It’s not an easy task understanding how to facilitate flexible working arrangements in Australia and as we move back into the regular pace of work (when this is over) we will likely be…

Now more than ever we need to be thinking about how we will emerge on the other side of a national crisis. In today’s episode I am going to give you a handful of tips on crisis management and what to do now that we are actually in need of business crisis management. This crisis management plan is for those of you who have had business affected by C…

It’s an interesting question and I want to walk you through how to think about it in a way that positions you well for business. I want you to ask yourself, who do you want to be? Better still, who do you want to be today? If you want to win, if you want to be the best, listen to this episode on business mindset and start strong! Connect with me on…

When you begin to go down the rabbit hole of building a business in Australia there are so many questions involving the ‘how’. One of the biggest downfalls of that thinking is that we need a ‘how to start’ motivational speech just to get us off our couch and into action. If you want to know how to start a business you simply get it done. There isn’…

Sometimes it can be difficult to put empathy and care about the fiscal needs of the business but today I want to talk to you about caring in business and how caring about employees makes for good business. It seems obvious right? That we should care about our business and our people within its four walls but empathy in business and more specificall…