The NAPPISCIAM Approach To Creating A Quality Action Plan

Many people speak about the need, for a meaningful, relevant strategy, and applying that, to perceiving, conceiving, developing, and implementing, the best possible, action plan, but few, once they assume, positions of leadership, actually, do so! After over 4 decades of involvement, in nearly every aspect of leading, and leadership planning, and having identified, qualified, trained, and developed, thousands of actual, and/ or, potential leaders, I have come to believe, one meaningful way, to do so, is what I refer to, as, the NAPPISCIAM approach, to developing, a valuable action plan. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly, review, consider, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means, and why it makes, a real difference, for the better.

1. Needs: No plan, makes any difference, for the better, until/ unless, it is based on the actual needs, of the organization, itself, as well as its stakeholders. In order to do so, takes the ability to fully consider, what these actually are, without any preconceived notions!

2. Attention: How one focuses his attention, and whether, he does so, with an open - mind, differentiates between true leaders, and the rest - of - the - pack!

3. Priorities: Whose priorities, one serves and represents, is significant, because unless, it is based on the needs, goals, and perceptions of stakeholders, and constituents, it is not possible, to create the best, action plan, for the particular group!

4. Perceptions: Two types of needs, should be addressed, in one's strategic and action plans! The first of these, obviously is the actual ones, but, unless, an attempt is made, to identify, and address, the perceptions of those one serves and represents, why would anyone be willing to listen, and participate?

5. Empathize: In developing, strategies, and approaches, a leader must prioritize, effectively listening, and learning, from every conversation, and experience! Only, when this is the process, will anyone be able to genuinely, empathize, and involve, and inspire, others, to buy - into, the program!

6. Strategy: You can't jump, right - in, and create an action plan. Rather, one must proceed, with a strategy, focused on addressing, current challenges, and needs, in a relevant manner, while ensuring, his approach, is, also, sustainable!

7. Consider; create: Great leaders, seriously consider, the options and alternatives, if they hope, to create an action plan, which might make a difference, for the better!

8. Implement: The reason, it's called, an action plan, is it creates a system, which implements, strategies, and approaches, focused, on change - for - the - better!

9. Articulate: How can one, get others to follow your plan, unless, you are able, and willing, to articulate, an inspiring, motivating, message?

10. Motivate to action: No one, leads, in a vacuum! Rather, it is incumbent, upon, quality leaders, to motivate, and inspire, others, to participating, and taking relevant action!

Will you consider the NAPPISCIAM approach, to creating, and developing, a quality, action plan? Are you the best person, for the responsibility?

5 Reasons, Public Officials Should Pay Attention To Appearances

In an ideal world, perhaps, the electorate/ citizens, would focus on relevant issues, and seeking, to elect, the individual, who might best, make a quality change, for the better! However, the reality is, in the United States, more people fail to exercise, and/ or take advantage of the right - to - vote, than actually do so. It also appears, that even, in the minority, who actually, exercise this right and responsibility, few take the time, and/ or, make the effort, to identify priorities, true issues, and differentiate between, potential, true leaders, and the empty - suits! Since perceptions are so important to how so many focus, and behave, public officials must be ready, willing, and able to pay keen attention, to appearances. With that in mind, this article will attempt to consider, review, and discuss, 5 examples.

1. Drain the swamp: One of Donald Trump's many promises, and slogans, when he ran for office, was he, would drain the swamp, which meant, change the way, business, was done, in Washington, DC. However, when we observe the first 18 months of his administration, the appearance is, of more corruption, and unethical behavior, than we have ever, before, witnessed! Did he drain the swamp, or simply, dredge, it, to make room, for individuals, with, even, less ethics, etc?

2. Environment: How does it appear, when the former, chief of the Environmental Protection Administration, seemed to be, against protecting the environment, and some of the chief, appointees, to positions of influence, and significance, within this department, were formerly, lobbyists, for industries, such as coal and oil. If we want, Americans, to be healthy, doesn't it make sense, we must protect our clean air, and water?

3. Russia: No one knows, for sure, whether there was any criminal behavior, between anyone in President Trump's administration, or campaign, or not! However, when all major American intelligence agencies, as well as similar ones, in our historic allies, agree, Russia attempted to interfere with the past election, and appears to be trying to do so, with the upcoming one, in November, how does it seem, when this President, tweets, and articulates, messages, which appear, to be favorable to Russia, and Vladmir Putin?

4. Inconsistent messages: Mr. Trump's message, often, seems to be inconsistent, and his positions, appear to sometimes, contradict themselves. Those paying attention, are often confused, about which is our actual policy!

5. Rhetoric/ vitriol/ message: What message does it send, when the focus of this President, seems to be, one of vitriol, and polarization, rather than unifying Americans, for the common good? When the message is muddled, and the rhetoric is often, empty and confusing, don't you think, many Americans are confused, in a somewhat, negative way?

If you hope to be a public leader, pay attention to how, what you do, and say, appears, to those you serve, and represent! Wake up, America, and regain control, of your destiny, and your country's direction!

Always Do Your Best

One of the greatest obstacles that individuals who try to be effective often confront is the "burnout" factor. They often put in so much dedication and energy to get accomplished what they believe is necessary for their organization, that they often end up getting frustrated by their inability to motivate others to either understand their vision, or to act on it.

Volunteer organizations contend with many of life's "obstructions" for potential leader's attention. Since people are volunteers, they cannot be forced to devote a certain amount of time and energy, even if that is what might actually be necessary. Leaders cannot "force" others to work as hard or as effectively as they do, nor should leaders be disappointed when other people "disappoint" them. Often, I have observed someone in a leadership position say that he or she believes that a leader must delegate duties and responsibilities to others in the organization, and then let them do the job. However, like most other realities, delegation of duties and responsibilities without realistic expectations, and even more importantly, timely, reviewable reporting and accountability, generally end up with little constructive being accomplished in a timely manner. I have observed in my three plus decades in this field that delegation is more often done to avoid taking action than as a productivity booster. Since most organizations do not adequately fully train leaders at a variety of different levels, on a recurrent basis, it is not in the least surprising that often delegation fails.

Leaders must make themselves accountable and be held accountable. If a leader does something, he must always dedicate himself to do his best. Leaders must care, not to please others, because that is often either impossible or irrelevant, or both, but for self-satisfaction. A leader must take pride in his vision and his efforts.

Too many leaders try to please others, and that is often a formula for disaster. If a leader decides to do his best, and understands that's all anyone can ever do, he can avoid that natural disappointment and disillusionment. Organizations should teach this to its leaders, because former leaders could potentially be a fabulous resource for future leaders, but not if past leaders feel "burned out"

Leaders Always Stand For Something

One of the principle differences between a true leader, and an individual merely holding a leadership position, is that true leaders always stand for something. A true leader understands that the burdens and responsibilities of leadership include putting the best interests of their organization first. They also realize that it is more important to do the right thing, than to try to do the popular thing!

Many individuals in leadership positions seem to try to substitute rhetoric and oration, for action and planning. While being a decent orator is certainly an advantage to a leader, being an excellent planner is far more essential. I have witnessed some great speakers that were horrible and ineffective "leaders," while also witnessing true leaders who were only average speakers, but were great planners.

Effective leadership means having a vision when one assumes a leadership position, and converting that vision to a plan. Before it can become a plan, anything important requires study and understanding, as well as considerable research, before making a well-considered, well thought-out decision as to a course of action. A true leader has a reason that he wants to lead, not just that he was asked to, or that "the organization needed me." It is abundantly clear that organizations never need anyone in a leadership position that cannot clearly state his reason for wanting to lead. True leaders always stand for something!

Effective leadership requires thought and a purpose. Once this purpose is examined, and is deemed worthwhile to pursue, an action plan must be created. However, merely creating a plan of action without implementing it, is a meaningless exercise.

Leaders have a clear-cut sense of direction, which guides them in their deliberations, considerations, actions taken, and judgments. This is the only way that effective and well-considered decision making can be arrived at. Without a method to make a judgment, it is nearly impossible to truly lead!

Most importantly, true leaders motivate others, not by words and empty rhetoric and platitudes, nor by repeating cliches and popular slogans, nor by simply complaining about what is wrong. A true leader may object to a current course of action, but not until he considers alternatives, and comes up with a better plan. Effective leaders will motivate other people by what they do, and their actions, rather than their words.

I remember marveling at why the employees of one restaurant seemed to have such a far better attitude than the competition, and were willing to work harder and do more, without complaining. I observed, however, that the first restaurant's owners were hands-on workers, working hard and long hours, and never asking anything of an employee that they would not do themselves. The owners of the first restaurant would bring over water to tables, if necessary, and clear tables, when the restaurant was busy. The competition, on the other hand, sat behind the cash register and "ordered" employees around. The first owner kept smiling and being friendly, regardless of the difficulties, while the other owner was rarely warm. Is it any wonder that these employees reacted differently? It is the same thing

Organizational leadership is the same way. Members and donors can generally eventually read through the empty rhetoric, while appreciating true dedication. If a leader wants to motivate, and to truly lead, he must lead by example.