Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
By Melanie Lockwood Herman
“Whenever we want a far-reaching impact, teaching others to teach can be a high-leverage strategy.”
I’ve just finished reading Effortless by Greg McKeown. In Chapter 12, “Lift,” I was struck by a subhead that reads, “When You Learn to Teach, You Teach Yourself to Learn.” McKeown goes on to explain that “Teaching others is also an accelerated way to learn. Even thinking we might be called upon to teach can increase our engagement.”
I still remember the first time I led a workshop on risk management. I stood in front of a polite, seated audience in a nondescript meeting room and nervously fumbled my collection of worn overhead transparencies. I silently willed the audience NOT to ask me questions about any of the content, worried that not knowing the answers would cast doubt on my content and credibility.
At the time, I was focused solely on concluding that hour-long workshop without running out of overheads. My reticence gave way to reflection, and I can now pinpoint that moment as the inception of my learning journey. Afterward, I vowed to be better prepared, enthusiastic about sharing my revelations, and eager for audience comments and questions. Today, I eagerly await the portion of my workshops where the audience can ask questions. After all, if I don’t know the answer, I’m gifted with another opportunity to learn!
McKeown’s words were a personal epiphany: everything I know about risk management I learned by preparing to teach and coach others. I savor the lessons and ideas from what I’m reading because I look forward to sharing them with others. For me, the act of sharing a concept or message solidifies it, makes it more easily accessible in my memory, and easier to apply in practice.
In the “Lift” chapter review, McKeown reminds the reader of the following teaching truths:
Every risk leader should also be a risk teacher. If the prospect of teaching doesn’t bring you joy, try one of the following pathways to embark on a teaching journey or evolve your confidence as a risk leader/teacher.
Identify something in the risk realm you’ve learned how to do or something you’ve created from scratch (or scraps!). Such as: recruit diverse team members of your organization to join a risk committee, present a compelling risk report to an Audit Committee, help a colleague identify or evaluate potential risk mitigation strategies, or update a risk policy to eliminate mixed messages. You get it! Create a “How To Do This” slide deck consisting of 10 slides or less. Use images and short phrases on your slides; avoid complete sentences and never put more than 50 words on a slide. Rehearse delivering your ‘how to’ presentation. Ready? Invite yourself to a virtual meeting using your preferred video communications tool. Open the meeting and hit record. Deliver your “How To Do This” or “How I Built This” presentation. Watch your presentation and jot down ideas to improve it.
I serve on a nonprofit board that begins every board gathering with a ‘mission moment.’ As a group, we reflect on the organization’s mission and its relevance in today’s world. I love how it sets the tone for the governance work to come. Consider adding a risk learning moment to the beginning of meetings you lead. Dedicate the first 5 minutes to share an idea. Share something you’ve learned from reading, doing, or a valuable lesson from a near miss or an epic fail. Encourage the team to reflect on how this lesson can inspire changes in your approach to risk management.
Push beyond your comfort zone and make lofty goals to advance your skills as a risk teacher. I challenge you to make a resolution to deliver 12 workshops during the next 12 months. Vow that each session will be a true original and develop the presentation and supporting materials from your own experience as a risk leader. What lessons have you learned that were the most impactful? Share these ideas and concepts; resist the temptation to recycle someone else’s content.
As I reflect on the consulting engagements my team leads, two types come to mind:
Although we dutifully complete the first type, we often worry that our hard work may end up on a shelf. However, with the second type of project, we get excited and relish those learning moments. We can often see the ‘ah ha’ moments as our clients begin to think about how concepts and techniques can be adapted and utilized in their unique situations. These projects are reciprocal. The organizations we support learn a skill and develop sustainable capabilities that will serve their risk management program for years to come. The NRMC team experiences the discipline from a novel perspective, allowing us to appreciate the beauty that results from a program grounded in adaptability and resilience.
Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your calls and emails about your journey to becoming a risk teacher as well as a risk leader or questions about NRMC’s educational and consulting offerings at 703.777.3504 or Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org.
“First let me congratulate you on a conference well done. I had a great time at the Nonprofit Employee Benefits Conference and walked away with some valuable tools and questions that we’ll need to be addressing in both the short and long term. Thanks to you and your staff for all you do to provide us with quality resources in support of our missions.”
“BBYO’s engagement of the Center to conduct a risk assessment was one of the most valuable processes undertaken over the past five years. Numerous programmatic and procedural changes were recommended and have since been implemented. Additionally, dozens (literally) of insurance coverage gaps were identified that would never have been without the work of the Center. This assessment led to a broker bidding process that resulted in BBYO’s selection of a new broker that we have been extremely satisfied with. I unconditionally recommend the Center for their consultative services.
“Melanie Herman has provided expert, insightful, timely and well resourced information to our Executive Team and Board of Directors. Our corporation recently experienced massive growth through merger and the Board has been working to better integrate their expanded set of roles and responsibilities. Melanie presented at our Annual Board of Director’s Retreat and captured the interest of our Board members. As a result of her excellent presentation the Board has engaged in focused review which is having immediate effects on governance.”
“The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has been an outstanding partner for us. They are attentive to our needs, and work hard to successfully meet our requests for information. Being an Affiliate member gave us access to so many time- and money-saving resources that it easily paid for itself! Nonprofit Risk Management Center is truly a valued partner of The Community Foundation of Elkhart County and we are continuously able to optimize staff time with the support given by their team.”
“The board and staff of the Prince George’s Child Resource Center are extremely pleased with the results of the risk assessment conducted by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. A thorough scan revealed that while we are a well run organization, we had risks that we never imagined. We are grateful to know that we have now minimized our organizational risks and we recommend the Center to other nonprofits.”
Great American Insurance Group’s Specialty Human Services is committed to protecting those who improve your communities. The Center team has committed to delivering dynamic risk management solutions tailored to nonprofit organizations. These organizations have many and varied risk issues, hence the need for specialized coverage and expert knowledge for their protection. We’ve had Melanie speak on several occasions to employees and our agents. She is always on point and delivers such great value. Thank you for the terrific partnership and allowing our nonprofits to focus on their mission!