Whatever our mission is, ultimately our work is about people. We work with people, our boards are made up of diverse people with different interests, and we engage people as clients or participants in our programs. As we release this episode, many nonprofits are returning to work after being out of the office due to COVID-19. Staff and volunteers are having to find new ways of connecting with colleagues. Being intentional about how we work with people will help us to better achieve our mission.
Questions to reflect on before you listen:
Think about the barriers holding your organization back. How many of them have to do with people and our relationships and limitations? How does that feel?
Discussion questions:
- What resonated with you about this conversation? What would you like to take back to your organization?
- We talked about fast thinking and slow thinking, and how we are doers and often don’t make time for slow thinking in our day-to-day interactions. How would slowing down and thinking more deeply about a certain work relationship help you to connect better with that person?
- The idea of flow invites us to better understand the individuals working around us. What energizes them in the work? How do they most want to contribute? Think about your board or staff members as individuals, and explore with them how their skills might best align with the challenges of your organization.
- How would you describe your organization’s culture? What words, images, or colors come to mind? What do you wish would come to mind? How can you bring people together to bridge your current culture with your preferred culture? Remember, your culture contributes directly to your mission.
Word of the Week: Love
What does “love” mean to you and your organization right now?