How Should I Ask of Thee? (Extrovert Edition)
Over the last few weeks I launched an effort to write 16 posts on LinkedIn called #TenWaysToTuesdayToAskForLargeGifts. This link will take you to all of those posts. The final four will show up in my feed this coming week.
Last week's blog post revealed eight ways to ask for a large gift if you’re an Introvert. Today’s post is for Extroverts, with eight approaches to asking based on the various styles of the Meyers Briggs personality test.
I trust that my SJ (sensing/judging) friends are doing ok. Not only am I profiling 16 different ways to ask (rather than 10 as promoted in the hashtag), I imagine by now you have also noticed there are only 15 people in the above graphic. It’s because there is a seat at the table for you my dear friends! You’re like the Elijah(s) of fundraising… Harbingers of hope and redemption through your unique styles of inviting people to support causes all over the world…
(...also, I miscounted and was too lazy to go back and edit the image…)
My goal with these posts is to address the common challenge I hear when charity leaders and board members claim “I’m not a fundraiser” or “I’m not good at asking”. I propose that anybody can ask well if it’s done in a style they are comfortable with.
Learning how to ask well is one of the most coachable elements of major gift fundraising
By the way, if you’ve never taken the Meyers-Briggs Personality test, try this super quick quiz to get an idea. As a reminder, the letters stand for Introverted/Extroverted, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Perceiving/Judging.
Even without testing, you can discern which of the following descriptions feel most comfortable and authentic for you. I have resonated with different descriptions during various seasons of my fundraising career. For a bit of fun along the way, I’ve listed an animal and celebrity connected to each type.
Alright, here goes with the 8 Extrovert profiles! Click the link to read the full 1 page description for each:
ESTP * The Dynamo * Ernest Hemingway * The Cheetah
ESFP * The Performer * Katy Perry * The Peacock
ENFP * The Champion * Robin Williams * The Parrot
ENTP * The Debater * Neil deGrasse Tyson * The Fox
ESTJ * The Supervisor * Michelle Obama * The Lion
ESFJ * The Provider * Taylor Swift * The Golden Retriever
ENFJ * The Teacher * Barack Obama * The Border Collie
ENTJ * The Commander * Steve Jobs * The Eagle
As always, I encourage you to embrace your own personal style and discover the satisfaction of asking in a way that is authentically you. As Extroverts, it is important to discipline yourself to be a good listener. Listen twice as much as you speak to better understand the style of the person you’re inviting to give. Finally, craft your invitation in a way that will set the giver to say a resounding “Yes!” (or at least to feel blessed by your invitation).
And for all of you, I pray for a radical release of resources as you invite people to the party in your unique God-given ways! Share your stories with me…I love hearing them.
See you next week.
* * * * * * * * * *
The following information has changed a bit so don't skip over it! I now have the following options to energize and multiply your efforts in major gift fundraising
* The Catalyst Course - an online course for those who are tasked with major gift fundraising. The cost is $500 and you can take it at your own pace. This is the full enchilada - everything I have learned and succeeded and failed at over the years. The reviews on this course have been outstanding. The return on investment is exponential.
* The Catalyst Course, "Bitesize" style. Don't feel like you need the whole course? It's now available in separate modules or sessions which you can engage for as little as $50. Some of my most popular teachings are on "Systems" (in the Fundamentals module) and "The Ask" (in the Sacred module).
* Live Coaching. Or as I sometimes call it, "Brain Rental". I'm not going to be modest here. When people rent my brain to talk about major gift fundraising strategies, they have a significant return on investment. It's $400 per 90m session and if you purchase 6 or more sessions up front you get a sweet discount. Let me know if you're interested.
I look forward to hearing about your good work.
Blessings,
