In our rush to become efficient, are we paying too little attention to the glue that holds our voluntary organizations together?
These days, Much attention is focused on how nonprofits can become more efficient by being more business-like in their operations. I believe that there is a lot to be learned from successful businesses. Why shouldn’t we copy the tools that have been adopted by the best run companies?
My experiences this weekend at a District Conference of Rotary International also drove home the effectiveness and global impact of a well-run voluntary organization. What struck me was the power of relationships, the bonding between people that propels the best in voluntary organizations. In our passion to streamline our decision-making and delivery of service, we must realize that the nonprofit section still has a great deal to teach the private sector. We can do so much for so little because of the energy of people that is released by the mutual respect and affection that nonprofit leaders can have with each other.
People can spend amazing amount of time, energy and resources because they value and enjoy the company of the people with whom they are working. If someone you respect asks you to do something, you are more likely to say yes. The challenge is to build these feelings of caring and respect while we are constantly rushed to get the job done quickly. We need to pause once in a while to have fun!
This reinforces the lesson that we must not overlook the need to provide volunteers with quality and enjoyable face-to-face interactions while they are providing probono labor and resources.
We should seriously consider:
• Retreats:
The Board should conduct at least one Retreat a year, maybe more. At Retreats people can break bread, enjoy a few laughs, and get to know each other while they have the leisure to focus on the future of the agency.
• Weekends:
Consider moving some Board meetings from weeknights into the weekends when people are less rushed and there is time for informal interaction.
• Environment:
Spend time at the beginning and end of each board meeting in activities that encourage interaction and enjoyment.
• ‘Breaking bread’:
Have committee meetings in a more relaxed environment so that people can ‘break bread’ together. Electronic meetings may be more efficient, but they provide very little of the energy and warmth that volunteers need to fulfill in their responsibilities. This comes from face-to-face contact.
• Celebrate success:
Spend lots of time thanking, cheering, and congratulating the people we work with. You may not see much of this in the private sector, where salaries and status are critical factors. In the non-profit sector, affection and respect are the pay volunteers get for a job well done.
• Invest in relationships:
While people join nonprofits because of their mission, they get more conscientious and invested because they like the people with whom they are working.
This is one important lesson that nonprofits can teach the private sector. People are more selfless, more generous with their time, and more productive when they are enjoying themselves, feel recognized for their work, and are excited about what they are doing.
We must always make sure that we respect our volunteers their time and their eagerness to not ‘waste time’. In our effort to be more efficient, however, we must make volunteer work ennobling and rewarding, or we will lose the volunteers. We need to capture the love and affection that I felt at the Rotary Convention. This is why Rotary is one of the world’s most effective organizations.
Tags: Barrie, relationships