Originally sent on January 2, 2023

Hi Barb,

It’s January and a new year, already. Can I ask you a personal question?

What will you do with your old calendar? Save it? Discard it? Recycle it?

I usually cut out interesting calendar photos for collaging and recycle the rest. As an avid composter and recycler, I love finding creative ways to reuse materials.

That’s one reason why Ecocycle Planning* is my go-to planning hack. One fourth of the Ecocycle is about “creative destruction.”

Actively letting go of what no longer works frees up resources for nurturing new things.

For example, I recently led an environmental group through the Ecocycle. In less than 2 hours, they found two ways to save themselves a lot of time and frustration. The Ecocycle helped them see exactly what they needed to change in order to move forward in 2023. You can read about it in my recent blog.

It wasn't what they expected!

What is it about 2022 do you want to leave behind? Try the Ecocycle to find out how to recycle it!

Warmly,

Barb Bickford

P.S. To experience Ecocycle Planning, schedule a demo for yourself or your group.

* Ecocycle Planning attribution: "The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures," by Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicz. Used under a creative commons license.

Start your planning with "Why?"

Why does your organization exist? What is it's mission? Leadership expert Simon Sinek, in his classic 2009 Ted Talk, emphasizes that planning is more about Why than How or What.

Learn more in this blog post "Why is Why so important?" offered by my colleague, Trina Walker of TLW Strategy.

"Help! I Need a Plan!" -- Save the dates!

Align your organization toward united action! In less time that you'd think possible, you can both draft a Why-focused mission statement and gain new insights on how to implement your Why in 2023. (Spoiler alert -- we'll guide you through the Ecocycle!)

Pencil in two mornings, February 10 and 17, on your calendar now and watch for emails to register for this time-saving, interactive and fun workshop.

Access the Ecocycle

If you have not already downloaded my Ecocycle handout, here it is.

Recent Blog posts

-- Feeling stuck? Ecocycle can help
-- Use Ecocycle Planning to leverage what isn’t working
-- Long-winded report outs got you down?

My current workshops and courses

Create buy-in by clearly stating your intentions

Here's a habit you can adopt to increase buy-in for whatever you are leading -- meetings or otherwise. Simply and clearly state your intended purpose -- your why -- in terms of something everyone cares about.

For example:

-- "In this presentation, I'll describe emerging challenges so that you can address them before they overtake you."

-- "I will help your non-profit identify innovative service projects so that you can continue to build its reputation as a creative and caring organization."

-- "In this board retreat, I'm going to help you understand your roles as board members so you have better working relationships with your staff and volunteers."

-- "I intend to teach you an efficient way of making decisions so that you can make progress toward your goals faster."

Explicitly stating your intentions creates a common purpose for the group and solidifies your role as the person who will lead them, whether you are in a formal leadership position or not.

The formula is simple:
"[what I'm going to do] so that [something all the hearers care about]."

What the hearers care about could be money, time, reputation, status, appreciation, recognition, belonging, contributing ... anything!

Aim for something everyone cares about and they will buy into how you'll lead them there. (source: Chad Littlefield)

Want more tips? Access Ten Tips to Foster Online Engagement.

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