This document discusses transparency in organizations. It begins by defining transparency as openness, communication, and accountability, where others can easily see what actions are performed. Transparency matters because people need information to trust and follow an organization's leadership. Younger generations especially value transparency more. Areas where transparency is important include finances, processes, personnel, academic decisions, and change processes. The document discusses increasing transparency through sharing thinking, research, and budgets. It also notes potential risks but argues transparency advances vision and builds trust. Overall, the document promotes transparency as a way to engage communities and retain members through openness and understanding of organizational priorities.

1. Transparency
Lisa Colton
Chief Learning Officer, See3 Communications
President, Darim Online
lisa@see3.com @lisacolton
Slides: http://bit.ly/atidenu2

2. Agenda Today
• Updates since last time
• What is transparency?
• Why does it matter?
• What does it look like?
• Where can it take place?

3. WHAT IS IT?
Transparency… implies openness,
communication, and
accountability…Transparency is operating in
such a way that it is easy for others to see what
actions are performed. It has been defined
simply as
"the perceived quality of
intentionally shared information.”
-Schnackenberg, A., Tomlinson, E., 2014. Organizational Transparency: A New Perspective on Managing Trust in
Organization-Stakeholder Relationships. Journal of Management DOI: 10.1177/0149206314525202.

4. WHY?
“Like authenticity, transparency is not defined by
you as a leaders, but by the people you want to
trust you and your organization. How much
information do they need in order to follow you,
trust you with their money or business?”
- Charlene Li
Open Leadership (pg. 193)
How does this relate to the culture of your school
and its leadership today and in the past?

5. Generational Differences
Importance of
transparency
increases with each
generation. As you
consider your own
transparency, design
for the future, not
for yourself.
http://www.jwtintelligence.com

6. Community Collaboration

7. Community
Collaboration
What has to happen for
a community to co-
invest in shared goals
and assets?
• Clarity of purpose
• Understanding of
what it takes to
achieve it
• All reading from the
same playbook
• Understanding roles
and the nature of the
teamwork
• What else?

8. Areas for Transparency
Financial Process Personnel
Academic Decisions Change Process What else?

9. Personal Transparency

10. Personal Transparency

11. Community
Transparency
Raising Voices =
Inviting Voices

12. Sharing thinking and research…
in advance of decisions

13. Temple Beth Am
Boca Raton, FL
Case Study
Susan Stallone, Dir. of Comms & Programming
Steve Kaufman, Executive Director

14. Background
• A feasibility study indicated an urgent need for
transparency
• Significant distrust of the organization’s
financial management
• Damaging, false information in circulation
• Many specific questions and issues
• A capital campaign could not be launched
with without addressing these issues

16. “Our surveys of 20,000 synagogue members have shown that the key
driver of synagogue membership is the perceived value for the dollar
of membership. What most strongly correlates to perceived value for
the dollar?
Budget transparency.
When leadership doesn’t share the true cost of programs, and uses
funds to subsidize programs as it sees fit, not only do recipients
undervalue the program, but they also feel a disconnect with the
synagogue that ultimately causes them to the congregation. Including
members in the conversation about budget priorities and explaining
the rationale behind expenses is a great step to retaining members and
ensuring financial sustainability.”
-Sacha Litman, Measuring Success
“Show Them What You’re Working with: How Transparency Leads to
Sustainability”
Financial Transparency

18. Organizational Transparency:
The Dashboard

19. Let’s Discuss Risks & Benefits
• Transparency feels scary or risky. Why?
• What does transparency “buy” you?
• What are the risks of NOT being transparent?
• How does transparency advance your vision?

20. Transparency as a Sandbox
There are boundaries and rules.

21. HOW of TRANSPARENCY
How can you increase transparency
in your school?
Where will you start?
How will you evolve transparency?

22. WHERE TO FIND MORE
Transparency “Taking It Home” Worksheet:
www.connectedcongregations.org
Discuss in the JDS Social Media Academy
Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jdssocialmedia
/

23. WHAT’S NEXT?
Next Webinar: Thursday, May 21st at 1pm EST
Amplifying with Online Ambassadors
In today’s connected landscape, individuals are always more authentic and
trustworthy than organizations. Therefore, your ambassadors play a critical in
your recruitment and retention strategy. Their actions — both small and large
— have an impact. Learn how and why social media plays an important role in
activating your ambassadors throughout the year — and especially at the end
of this school year.
Work on building trust, so we can engage and leverage your online
ambassadors!

24. Q&A

25. • Lisa Colton lisa@see3.com
• Twitter: @lisacolton @see3 @darimonline
• Slides: http://bit.ly/atidenu2