by Marketing | Mar 7, 2020 | Commercial, Non profit, Strategy
THE THREE STYLES OF LEADERSHIP –
This concept is taught in marketing and business degree studies and is important. Born leaders are not those that are always at the front of the pack, because it depends what the pack needs that determines the leader. Good leaders know this because it isn’t about being a leader, it is about making the pack successful together.
There are three leadership styles developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin that are considered to be among the “classic” methodologies used by business leaders. Each has its strengths and drawbacks – here are more details on each of them:
1. Laissez-Faire Leadership
This type is the largely hands-off with minimal direction and supervision from the manager to the staff. The key to using this method is having well trained and efficient directors who can work as intermediaries between you and your employees.
2. Autocratic Leadership
This is a leadership style that has become something of a relic in today’s business environment. The reason is that most employees work better without the overbearing presence of their boss around at all times. However, there are some who would argue that the Autocratic methods are still as effective as they were in Feudal Europe – but only if properly balanced with feedback and face time.
3. Participative Leadership
The third approach is to find a happy medium between the above two methods. These managers back-off more to allow people to tap their creativity and think independently using their own initiative, while still maintaining enough control to guide the overall vision of teams without imposing their own vision on their decisions. In short, you’re giving them a much greater lead and will need to be more trusting of decisions made by your directors.
These three leadership types form the foundation of most styles used by corporate leaders today. However, they do not necessarily encompass every philosophy on the nature of a business and how leadership skills should be developed.
by Marketing | Dec 5, 2019 | Non-Profit Strategy, Digital Marketing, Non profit
Donor Relationship Management
Donor relationship management is the process of thoughtfully and proactively cultivating relationships with new donors and stewarding current donors in order to maximize donor retention, engagement and investment. It typically requires clear segmentation and prioritization of donors and leads to the formulation of clear goals and action plans for how the nonprofit will interact with a given donor segment to achieve desired results.
(more…)
by Marketing | Sep 30, 2019 | Commercial, Digital Marketing, Non profit
Recently Jeff Cherry wrote a great article in the magazine Conscious Company about how the Shark Tank investors are missing the big point of “WHY” people are creating a business or providing a service. He says “We’re leaving the world where you can generate ‘greedy’ proftis first, give back later, and still expect customers, employees, communities, and suppliers to be genuinely engaged in your success.” We are entering the world of being conscious in your business goals.
This is a new ecomony, it is a “Purpose Economy”, where you ability to create financial value will be directly correlated to the manner and magnitude with which you first create societal value. Instead of building a business ‘then’ giving back, we start our business with ‘giving back’ as the primary motivator for getting started in the first place. This is conscious capitalism, first coined by Muhammad Ynaus, the Nobel Prize-wnning founder of Grameen Bank, and digs deep at why we want to do what we do. It makes us ask the harder questions…especially to ourselves.
A while ago I posted the video by Simon Sinek that states “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” Today, people are running their businesses and presenting their ideas on something so much deeper than making money. It is a movement that allows a person and their employees to feel and grow as they also work. To me it alleviates the stress of work, or the “making of money” and turns it into a joy that provides nourishment.
I’m not only talking about “new” business here, but I know I’m also talking to seasoned professionals already in business, with successful operations. Many of you can already answer the “why” question and do every day as you work towards your goals. Transitioning your thought process and messaging runs along the same principles and evaluation that comes with opening a conscious oriented company. You are all truly engaged, I know this, and maybe it is time to tell your customers “why” you and your employees are so engaged. Show them the “why you do it” side.
Read Jeff Cherry’s article at Conscious Company.
Jeff Cherry is the CEO and Managing Partner of the Porter Group LLC.
View Simon Sinek’s video on YouTube.
by Marketing | Jul 17, 2019 | Non profit, News and Media, Press, Public Sector
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2017 – Longmont, Colorado. United Way of Weld County has successfully launched their new web platform delivering responsive content, updated messaging, videos, event registration, and online donations.
The team at iCita has worked closely with United Way of Weld County in Greeley, CO for the past 10 years providing strategy, graphic design, web development, and donor management services to a truly great organization. Through the years, the dedication of the staff at United Way has show how much they care for their community and helping those in need. This next step is a movement forward to be even more accessible to the people in Weld County.
The new responsive site and application is located at www.UnitedWay-Weld.org.
About United Way of Weld County
United Way of Weld County directly impacts at least one out of every four people in Weld County, Colorado. We help nurture children and give them a good start in life; help keep youth on track and support youth success; assist families through crisis; support the homebound, lonely and frail elderly; support health and wellness; help people overcome disabilities and build self-sufficiency in families; help people find and access services and connect people to volunteer opportunities. Services range from helping people at the beginning of life to helping them at the end of life.
We bring the community together to solve health and human problems. We work to improve the lives of people in our community. United Way works with businesses, schools and government, non-profit organizations, citizen groups, faith based organizations, volunteers and contributors to make Weld County a better place for all. We bring the community together to tackle some of our community’s most pressing health and human care issues and priority concerns.
About iCita llc
iCita (pronounced eye-SEE-ta) is a strategic marketing and technology company focused on cloud-based technologies and solutions. The iCita team has specific strategies that form a solid bridge between marketing and technology goals propelling their clients forward. The company is based Colorado and founded in 2001 in Boulder, at the very heart of the technology boom in the state.
Get inspired and make a difference – visit www.iCita.net and www.iCita.rocks.
Media Contact:
Thomas Smidt
tom.smidt@icita.net
720.232.0917 direct
by Marketing | Dec 29, 2017 | Non profit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2018 – Longmont, Colorado. Colorado Young Leaders, a Colorado-based student leadership organization, worked closely with their innovative student base to deliver a mobile web solution that shows their commitment to student leadership. Working closely with the CYL team, iCita designed and completed an upgraded web platform for the Highlands Ranch based non-profit. The site was built around a very responsive design that brings the mobile accessibility and content presentation the students and their parents desired.
Using a secure WordPress framework and an upgraded WPLMS base, the site was given life through the efforts of an inspired team of CYL staff and volunteers. Content was re-organized to meet SEO goals, and page layouts were geared towards meeting the requirements of the customer journey on every page. iCita provided guidance in planning meetings, SEO strategy, design wire framing, and content layout, the whole time following the CYL team’s leadership down a great path of creating the new face of CYL online.
“There is such a talented team at CYL,” says Thomas Smidt, President of iCita. “They are smart, creative and listen to what works best for their students and parents. I love what they came up with.”
The new responsive website is located at www.ColoradoYoungLeaders.org and consists of a front end registration process, event management, online donations, and ecommerce functionality. Parents and future students can learn about CYL programs, Summits, volunteering, and student leadership adventures all through the site. There are better connections to the social media channels the staff and student leaders use while at the same time giving the information to parents and guardians need to help guide their child through the CYL program.
About Colorado Young Leaders
Founded in December 2014 and based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, CYL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is defining a new generational leader; a young person with a clear passion and purpose, a heart for others and a desire to get the most out of life. They currently operate leadership programs in several counties in Colorado and continue to expand to new high schools and counties. If you want more information for your student or need information about getting your school involved, please contact Jennifer Landers through the website at www.ColoradoYoungLeaders.org.
About iCita llc
iCita (pronounced eye-SEE-ta) is a strategic marketing and technology company focused on cloud-based technologies and solutions. The iCita team has specific strategies that form a solid bridge between marketing and technology goals propelling their clients forward. The company is based Colorado and was founded in 2001 in Boulder – at the very heart of technology innovation in Colorado.
Get inspired and make a difference – visit www.iCita.net and www.iCita.rocks.
Media Contact:
Thomas Smidt
tom.smidt@icita.net
720.232.0917.
