Managing a Nonprofit Staff in Uncertain Times
A Joint Letter
from CNPE CEO, Das Rooprai,
and HR Affiliates President, Jennifer Wheatley
A lot of nonprofit employees are under a great deal of stress right now. Continued threats of funding freezes, and policy changes at federal, state, and local levels are leaving many of us wondering about the sustainability of our jobs and our organizations. With each passing week navigating these changes is becoming more and more complex.
In times like these, it can be tempting to retreat, tune out, and shut down, but that’s more negative impact on organizations. Coming together with our teams to share how we’re feeling, talk things through, support each other, and find ways to navigate is the healthier path. Here are a few simple tips to remember for supporting your employees so they can continue to support your mission.
Reconnect with the mission and vision of your organization - Your team knows your mission, right? But when was the last time you read it out loud at a staff or board meeting and rallied the team to recommit to what your organization does, who you serve, and why you do it? These three elements of a mission are your compass that points your team in the right direction. It strengthens identity, influences decisions, and engages supporters. Your mission, coupled with the vision of how you see the future of our community, are collectively your reason for being. So, consider having a breakfast or lunch meeting to reconnect everyone to the mission and vision and create space to openly discuss your organization’s value in our changing world. (P.S. Don't forget to include remote employees.)
Communication is key, especially in challenging times - It's important to remember that communication isn't only what you say. It's your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice too. You may be communicating more stress and anxiety than you realize. It's important to be transparent and honest. So, have your managers meet one-on-one with the people they supervise to check in on how they’re feeling, what they're thinking, and what anxieties they may be experiencing. You can leverage this input to identify themes and work together with your staff to generate ideas for navigating the challenges.
Financial wellness of employees & organizations helps reduce stress - Much of our stress can center around financial matters. And if your organization is dealing with financial uncertainty (as so many of us are), you may not have the wherewithal to assure your team everything will stay the same. Raises may take a pause and costs may shift, as examples. But talking honestly about these matters can go a long way in maintaining trust. Giving assurances where and when you can also help. And don’t forget staff can be great resources for finding ways to reduce costs and save real money to extend your financial position. Check out this article for some thought starters about how to improve employees' financial wellness. And if you have a MasterClass subscription, check out this upcoming session: Help Your Employees Become More Resilient With Dr. Alexandra Solomon.
It's impossible in a changing world to remove all sources of anxiety but ignoring them just makes things worse. Meeting your employees where they are and talking honestly about the future can be reassuring, and it helps generate ideas on how to get through it all.
Sincerely,
Das Rooprai
CEO
Center for Nonprofit Excellence
Email here
Jennifer Wheatley
President
HR Affiliates
Email here
