Between long, hard hours and an endless task list, working in the nonprofit industry can sometimes feel like thankless work. Over time, this may lead to nonprofit professionals disengaging and eventually leaving the sector.
While this is a challenge for many organizations, there are strategies that nonprofit leaders can implement to ensure their teams are connected and remain engaged in the work they do. Below, 16 Forbes Nonprofit Council members each share one approach they rely on to maintain a strong and motivated team.
1. Consider Each Individual Employee
We pride ourselves on ensuring team members feel seen, valued, respected and heard. How do we do this? By employing individual consideration and speaking to the heart, which requires us to maximize engagement opportunities as much as possible through fun personal gatherings and by recognizing unique viewpoints, birthdays, holidays and personal victories—never missing an opportunity. – Dr. Cinque Parker, Marie Aline Gay Heart for Haiti Foundation
2. Showcase And Celebrate Successes
The best way to sustain morale in any nonprofit when people are working hard is to purposefully look for ways to showcase results and celebrate shared successes. In our case, that means elevating awareness of team initiatives that advance our mission of serving students. By aligning your team’s work directly with the organization’s purpose, they can feel they are contributing to the greater good. – Michael Horowitz, The Community Solution Education System
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3. Refocus On The Mission
Bring it back to the mission! Nothing beats the experience of living the mission of an organization. When you are buried in spreadsheets, board meetings, donor proposals or other essential tasks, take time to live the mission. That might include a site visit or simply a phone call with those most closely working on the frontline of your organization. – Jono Anzalone, The Climate Initiative
4. Make The Work More Real
For my team, which is finance and development, so much of the work is done in front of a computer. Those long hours on spreadsheets and presentations can take a toll on anyone, so what I try to do is to bring the team into the work in a physical way. We walk the halls of our schools at least once a year. We also set up meetings with programmatic teams and talk about the impact of the work. – Neil Shah, Achievement First
5. Regularly Convene To Share Challenges
One useful way to boost morale is to regularly convene the team to share and discuss the challenges they face. My aim is to facilitate a discussion of innovative cross-departmental solutions with the team. It lifts morale when team members identify guiding principles and practices that can solve the case today and address similar challenges that are reasonably expected to surface in the future. – Christopher Washington, Franklin University
6. Implement Opportunities To Explore Leadership Development
We invest in our team’s professional and personal development in various ways, but one that has helped motivate and inspire our team is reading leadership books together. Every week, we discuss one chapter, which provides insight into each team member’s worldview. Book studies are a great way to cultivate a shared mission and vision while also discussing different perspectives. – Brittany Dunn, Safe House Project
7. Build An Open Internal Culture
Successful leaders of any organization build a culture of gratitude, transparency and communication at all levels. When times are tough and needs are communicated, it provides opportunities for collaboration, empathy and ultimately appreciation and gratitude. – Nick Lynch, Collidescope IO, Inc.
8. Be A Role Model
As the chief leader, it’s my job to model the culture I want for my office. The team needs to see the leader prioritize and create proper work-life balance. I model for my team the real time management tools I use daily to make sure all important things are completed and how to floor other tasks into a funnel pipeline for a steady flow of work. – Jamee Rodgers, Urban Neighborhood Initiative
9. Give Employees Time Away
Give the team time off. Help protect their time away by letting them know you have their back when it comes time for them to recharge and modeling that for others so that everyone respects those boundaries. Outside of that, consider the different ways to build relationships with employees, including acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, giving gifts or simply letting them feel “known.” – Randy Wong, Hawaii Youth Symphony
10. Reconnect To The ‘Why’
Reconnect your team to the “why” of your work. We start each meeting by asking people to share a magic moment or a moment that made them stop and reflect on our work. These always set a positive tone for any discussion and remind us of why we do this work. Also, schedule fun outings with team members so they can laugh and connect outside of the work. Ax throwing is surprisingly great for team building. – Tina Admans, Minds Matter Southern California
11. Leverage Laughter
Encourage laughter. One objective of our weekly team meeting is to share a good laugh but never at the expense of a colleague or client. This has strengthened the social glue that keeps the team working through tough tasks. – Laura MacDonald, Benefactor Group
12. Show Your Appreciation
Whether you have a small or large team, take time to show them that you appreciate them. Celebrate work anniversaries, birthdays and special accomplishments with a note of appreciation, lunch or an afternoon celebration with cupcakes. It’s always a good time when co-workers get to take a break and be recognized for their contributions. – Kimberly Lewis, Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.
13. Implement Restoration Periods
This year, I added a restoration week to our calendar. This is a week in July when the whole organization is closed and no one has to worry about what is missed or needs to be made up on return. It allows for real vacations. I also coupled this with quarterly self-care bonuses, which are minor stipends each member of the team can use as they see fit to ensure they are finding joy in their lives. – Patrick Riccards, Driving Force Institute
14. Give Staff Ownership
Empowering staff to take ownership of their areas of responsibility is key to building a strong team. Nothing is more demotivating than having the boss looking over your shoulder all the time, so when you know you’ve got the right people for the jobs you need done, step back and let their creativity and commitment shine. Your staff will thrive and your organization will reap the benefits! – Josephine Faass, Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
15. Create Connection Opportunities For The Team
As leaders, we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that a mission can take care of morale. That’s not the case, and as a leader, you must intentionally create opportunities for your team to connect with the work and ensure they feel appreciated. One thing we do at InnovateEDU is host an organization-wide day of service in November so that team members can volunteer together. – Erin Mote, InnovateEDU
16. Foster Collective Belief In The Work
There isn’t just one strategy; rather, it’s the collective belief in the work. Believing in mission delivery helps on those long, hard days. Storytelling is a great impact reminder, but what is just as important is celebrating the big and small wins that move us towards mission success on an ongoing basis. Saying thank you publicly and privately is a great motivation booster. – Gwen Cooper
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