As a nonprofit leader, I know firsthand how easy it is to get overwhelmed by all the moving parts—from planning events to managing teams to just keeping the lights on. That’s why I’m excited to share this conversation between Glennda Testone, CEO of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, and Christie Machorek, Chief Operating Officer of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab.
Together, they uncover incredible insights that every nonprofit leader with goals and priorities needs to hear. You might already know what project management is and why it’s important. However, Christie shares key practices and ways of thinking about how to accomplish goals, which can take a tasklist, project, or objective from chaos to clarity with a few simple shifts.
Christie’s advice reminds us that good project management isn’t about rigid tools or endless meetings. It’s about creating simple, effective systems that keep your team aligned and your mission moving forward.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. WHAT IS A PROJECT? (AND WHAT IS NOT)
“A project has a clear goal, a start, and an end. Not everything is a project.” That distinction is so important. It’s easy to treat everything we do as a project, but routine tasks—like checking emails or reconciling monthly expenses—don’t need the same level of planning. Christie broke it down for us: planning a gala? That’s a project. Applying for a grant? Definitely a project. By defining what’s actually a project, we can focus our energy on what matters most.
2. GOOD ENOUGH PLANNING IS ENOUGH
“You don’t need a perfect plan to make progress.” Christie encourages us to start with the basics: What’s the goal? Who’s responsible for what? What’s the timeline? Even a simple plan can go a long way in keeping everyone aligned.
3. COMMUNICATION IS THE SECRET SAUCE
Project management isn’t just about organizing tasks; it’s about fostering better communication. Christie explains, “A clear plan helps everyone know their roles, deadlines, and expectations. It reduces frustration and creates a smoother process.” I’ve seen how messy things can get when communication breaks down and Christie’s insights drive home the importance of being explicit about roles and timelines.
4. DON’T SKIP THE CELEBRATION OR DEBRIEF
“At the end of every project, celebrate the win—big or small—and debrief to learn what worked and what didn’t.” She is absolutely right. Too often, we can get focused on the next thing that we skip over celebrating successes or reflecting on lessons learned.
KEY QUOTES
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS A SKILL ANYONE CAN DEVELOP. “I wasn’t born a project manager, but I’ve always been organized. In high school, I was co-captain of the track team and I took it upon myself to create practice schedules and assign roles. It wasn’t perfect, but it taught me the value of teamwork and planning.” (Christie Machorek)
- THE IMPORTANCE OF SCOPE. “Scope is what’s in and what’s out. It’s like saying, ‘We’re building a house with four rooms.’ Without that clarity, projects become unruly.” (Christie Machorek)
- SIMPLICITY IS POSSIBLE. “Project management doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about freeing yourself up to focus on what really matters.” (Christie Machorek)
ABOUT CHRISTIE MACHOREK:
Christie Machorek, Chief Operating Officer at the Nonprofit Leadership Lab, brings over 20 years of experience in building high-performing teams and leading large-scale organizational transformations. With a strong foundation in Information Technology, project management, and business process optimization, Christie has successfully driven change management and organizational design initiatives across multinational corporations and high-growth startups. Her expertise spans managing global projects in HR, IT, and Sales & Marketing, with a focus on aligning technology with business goals. Known for her leadership in developing scalable systems and strategies, Christie excels in optimizing processes, fostering operational efficiency, and driving teams toward sustainable success.
RESOURCES:
- Christie Machorek’s LinkedIn
- Nonprofit Leadership Lab
- Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership – 2nd Edition by Joan Garry
- FREE WORKSHOP: Let’s Build the Nonprofit Board of Your Dreams!
- FREE WORKSHOP: The 5 Practices of Outstanding Nonprofit Leaders
- Music by Jukebox the Ghost
- Voiceover Work by Cindy Cap Solutions
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