Design Group International - A Cause Greater

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A Cause Greater Blog,

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The ladder is not really a ladder

by Lon L. Swartzentruber
on July 07, 2025

Last week I bumped into a former workout buddy at the gym. I hadn’t seen him in a while and took the opportunity to catch up. He recently sold his home in East Grand Rapids (Michigan) and moved to ...

The ladder is not really a ladder

Why culture kills a strategic plan before it even has a chance to start

How multi-scenario planning is helpful in disruptive times

Caught in the obstacle rather than the opportunity it provides

A new visual metaphor to understand organizational culture

Why WHO matters (more than we know)

An Expanding Horizon

When clarity becomes illusive

Pause at the top

Illusion of Control

The Heartbeat of Those Around You

The massiveness of one’s unknown unknown

Hurdles

Reimagining the Future

Seeing through the visible

Being willing to do the hard thing you don’t want to do

Making Wise Decisions

How do you drive for results?

Special Invitation: Resting Retreat for Leaders

Thinking and Acting Strategically – What are your underlying strategic theories?

Stillness: an upside-down New Year’s resolution

Developing high-performing teams

Acknowledging the people skills we seek to develop

Building your individualized leadership development endeavor

Amid Oaks

Still Hands

A Calm Heart

A Quiet Mind

Multi-Resting

Exemplar Governance

Monitoring Mission

Mind how you go

What success looks like for Board Governance: Dancing on Mission

The Organizational Dance – Who Dances with Whom?

The WHY Behind Organizational Governance

Which way do you turn when you get to first base?

How will we get there?

What will propel us toward our vision and what will impede us along the way?

What Is Our Vision for the Future?

What are your organization's core values?

Why does our organization exist?

Five Fundamental Questions That Unlock Your Organization’s Future Value

Four Dynamics of a Highly Effective Team: eBook

Aligned on When and How to Get There

Accountable on Desired Outcomes

The People-Centered School: How COVID Helped Us Find Our Focus

Connected through relationship

Centered Around a Unifying Purpose

Elevating Your Weakest Point

Your New Wine and New Wineskin

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

How do we learn as an organization?

How do we deliver help as an organization?

How do we listen as an organization?

Special Announcement

Lots of Grace & Lots of Space

Listening for Unasked Questions

Three Essential Elements of a Successful Fundraising Campaign: Element #3: Time as Your Ally

Three Essential Elements of a Successful Fundraising Campaign: Element #2: Relationships

Three Essential Elements of a Successful Fundraising Campaign: Element #1: Purpose

Towards (the Ultimate) Innovation

The Importance of Showing Up

3 Things Every Donor Wants to Know in a Crisis

Three Essential Elements of a Successful Capital Campaign

Pas de deux: Creating An Environment Where There is Alignment, Commitment, And Trust

Pas de deux: Creating An Environment Where People Have Clarity on Their Roles and Communicate Openly

Pas de deux: Creating An Environment That is Open

Pas de deux: A new way of approaching board governance

Trust: An Essential Element of Successful Change

Curiosity in Change Leads to Openness, Wonder and Possibility

Courage in Change

Three Behaviors Necessary for Change

How Your CFO (and Other Leaders) Can Build and Strengthen Authentic Donor Relationships

The Surprising and Powerful Role Volunteers Play in Building Authentic Donor Relationships

Rethinking a Board Member's Role in Building Authentic Donor Relationships

Design Group International Announces New CEO

5 Don'ts for Donor Relationship Building This Year-End (And What To Do Instead)

CEO to Founder: Discovering Your Path to a Successful Executive Transition

How Process Consulting Can Contribute to Capital Campaign Success

A Process Consulting Approach to Strategic Planning