As nonprofit leaders, when we think of partnering, we may not think about partnering with our team, however, partnering with your team is more important now than it was in the past, especially with the Great Resignation.
Employees are looking for an organization that provides more than just a paycheck. They are looking for a cause to rally behind and to make an impact on their community.
Some ways to partner with your team include giving them a voice/vote, really listening to what your team is saying, helping your team reach their own goals, getting involved in the day-to-day operations, and giving them the room to try new ideas/things and fail.
Giving your team a voice and a vote on operational tasks/decisions allows them to “buy into” the mission of the organization and gives them more ownership and interest in the outcome and success of the organization.
Taking the time to really listen to what your team is saying is an instant way to create a connection and show how much you value them. So the next time an employee wants to talk to you about an idea or something in the organization, take the time to focus solely on them and really listen to what they are saying, ask questions and provide feedback.
In my experience, my team really appreciates me taking the time to sit down with them within a few weeks of them starting. I like to talk to them about their family, values that are important to them, and their goals. Then I ask them how can I help them achieve their goals and we brainstorm ideas of what we can do within the company to help those goals become a reality. It is one of my favorite things to do with my team.
Getting involved in the day-to-day operations in your organization not only gives you a better understanding of what is happening within your organization, but it allows you to connect with your team. You’ve been in their shoes and completed those tasks before so you can provide guidance as needed. It also gives you another thing in common and creates a connection.
Lastly, giving your team the room to try new things and fail creates partnership and gives them a sense of ownership in your organization. Also, if we are really honest with ourselves as leaders, failure is a part of business and it always teaches a lesson. I love the quote by Will Smith on failure, “You gotta live where you’re almost certain you’re going to fail,” Smith said. “Failure actually helps you to recognize the areas where you need to evolve. So fail early, fail often, fail forward.”
If you want to learn more about partnering with your staff, join us for our next Workshop Partnerships Make Dollars and Sense on February 16th at 1 pm. You can register here to save your spot: https://www.linkedin.com/events/complimentaryworkshop-partnersh6894394495417368576/