"us, them"
Don't you find it ironic that so many groups that are working together helping to support a cause are also working against each other? It is referred to as the "us, them" syndrome.
Board members can exclude Executive Directors from social functions and key strategic decision-making because the Directors are not one of them.
Executive Directors and senior management can set strategies that impact clients without consulting their front-line staff who are the ones dealing with the clients regularly.
Staff members can treat clients like they are sub-human and can feel that clients don't need the same priviledges as they do.
Agencies can treat funders with disrespect. They will take the money, but they don't feel the funders have the right to question how they use the money or what impact it will make.
This list can go on, but these are the common types of complaints I have heard over my ten years of providing workshops. Eliminating these attitudinal barriers are not easy because they are not obvious to most unless you are looking for them and yet the victims of these attitudes do not forget easily. I can hear and feel their anger.
Why do we create these barriers? Do we like to have power over others as others perhaps have or have had over us? Do we still like to be in the "in" crowd and demand others to recognize this fact?
Yet, when people can overcome their "us,them" attitudes, it is truly heartwarming. I remember working at an agency and there was a former cop working the security desk. This man was unpleasant to our clients and their children. For months, he would frown, but suddenly one day, I saw him smiling and playing with one of the young children. His whole countenance had changed. The child had been continually smiling at the man until one day he could no longer keep his distance. From that day, the man couldn't have been friendlier to those who were friendly to him. In this instance, it was a race issue. I say was because he no longer saw race as a difference. He began to see the child like any other child, and I am sure his days became pleasanter.
As part of the human race, we seem to look for differences and in some countries we celebrate differences, but is it at the expense of finding what makes us all the same first?
Something to think about!
Labels: managing non-profits, us them attitudes
Executive Pay for Performance
Over the past couple of weeks, there has been much discussion around executive bonuses. Should executives be paid bonuses when their companies had received bail outs from the government? Has their performance justified the bonus?
In the non-profit sector, bonuses are given very discreetly, if given at all. Many people feel that executives in the non-profit sector should not be paid very much so salaries are not readily disclosed. Discussing bonuses could quite possibly be the kiss of death! Is that right?
Personally, I think executives should be paid bonuses, but only if they improve their bottom-line which if any one has followed my blogs means that they have improved client success - not that they have just been financially sustainable. However, I also believe that agencies that are successful with their client results will also inevitably be successful in raising money, if they know how to make the right ask.
Executives, in the non-profit sector, have much to contend with on a daily basis. When you are working with people and your clients are all people, every day is different. There are so many potential issues that can arise and it is the very good executive who can strategically reduce issues and create solutions that will in the end mean greater success for the clients and everyone associated with their success.
Defining and measuring organizational outcomes is a fairly accurate way to measure overall client success. It is a strategic measure that can bring everyone together to focus on a common end goal. Executives who have stated their organizational outcomes and have shown improvement should be rewarded. In the private sector, it is perfectly acceptable and in fact motivational to reward employees that have achieved goals so why shouldn't it also be acceptable in the non-profit sector? Why do we feel we need to keep it quiet?
Something to think about!
Labels: executive bonuses, non-profit
"Three Cups of Tea"
During the cold months earlier this year, I had a chance to read a highly recommended book called, "Three Cups of Tea" written by David Oliver about an exceptional man called Greg Mortenson. What a book!! This story, highlighting miraculous changes, takes place mostly in the war areas of Pakistan and Afganistan.
Miracle one:
He was able to unite people from communities by focusing on one common goal - providing space and teachers to educate their children. Cultural groups, including members of the Taliban, overcame their differences in other areas because this dream of educating their children was far more important.
Miracle two:
On top of that, here was an American, a perceived enemy to some groups, finding the funding to help their children...unselfishly and involving even more Americans as the funders.
Miracle three:
I had heard that his schools had not been attacked by the Taliban and yet many schools are for girls only. Mr. Mortenson believes it is because the community feels it is their school, and the community will fight hard to defend it.
Note: the Taliban do not believe in educating girls and had closed down schools in southern Afganistan after they threw out the Russians. This year, in Pakistan, girls in other schools had acid thrown in their faces.
I highly recommend this book. It reminds me that we need to find what makes us , the human race, similar and build on that, not what makes us different. This book also reminds me that focusing on a few powerful, outcomes is ideal and it is the simplicity of the outcomes that makes everyone understand and be able to come together to make miracles a reality.
Something to think about...
Labels: outcomes, Three cups of tea
Fresh starts
How many of you feel that September is the month to start fresh - feel like a new beginning? I certainly do. I find it is a time to review life and see how to make it more rewarding and more challenging.
I know many of you buy new outfits for your children and also for yourself. As well, it is sign-up time for sports activities like soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and cross-country running - again for your children, but also for you. Who says adults can't take up the same activities?
Yesterday, I have started my own cooking challenge. Since I am a rather poor cook, I got inspired by the "Julia and Julie" movie. Although, instead of cooking all the recipes from one of Julia Child's cookbooks, I have decided to take a healthier cookbook and go through all the recipes. This book provides twenty-eight days of meal plans and recipes that are healthy and somewhat easy-to- make. The book is called, "Food Matters" by New Yorker, Mark Bittman. While Pots and food crumbs are everywhere, the recipes are delicious so far. I recommend this challenge to anyone who wants to eat healthier and better.
Professionally, I will be introducing new services to a different target group in the non-profit sector. I am very excited because it will give me a chance to make a greater impact in this sector.
What are you going to do to challenge yourself this fall? Besides changing clothes, reading new books or watching new movies, what else will you do that will make you feel that a part of you is experiencing something fresh?
Professionally, we fall into ruts so easily and don't want to change. We may not like where we are, but we sure don't want to put ourselves in a position where we don't know what will happen and yet... Think of some of those times when you have had to overcome your fears or your nerves, like moving to a new school or changing jobs or pushing yourself to join a club where you didn't know anyone. There is nothing like realizing that this new experience has made you feel better.
We push the "refresh button" on our computers. Why don't you push your own internal refresh button and see where, besides personally, you would like to be in the next four months? What skills would you like to learn? How would you like to be feeling? Could you start your own business or turn a hobby into a money-making venture part-time? JUST think about the next four months - no further.
Something to think about...
Labels: fresh starts, professional and personal challenges
