Management at a Nonprofit

As a manager, you are responsible for ensuring that your team is motivated, engaged and productive. This is true in any organization, but it has special meaning in a nonprofit, where you are all (hopefully) working toward a common mission. Indeed, how you go about this process is just as important as the process itself. How can you be a better manager for your staff and make them feel valued in your organization? Here are some tips you can use starting today.

• Lead by example. If you're overwhelmed, your staff will be overwhelmed. If you're passive-aggressive, your staff will be passive-aggressive. You set the tone for your department, so it is critical that your example be positive. Manage your own work-life balance and be effective and efficient and you'll see your team following your lead. Yes, you have a mission, and if you're like many nonprofits, resources may be scarce, but you have to give employees a sense that you're all in this together.
• Focus on communication. A lack of communication is one of the top reasons for employee dissatisfaction. Not telling your staff about a problem before it's too late creates a lot of resentment in the office. Be transparent about all things — from performance issues to your organization's financial status — and do so as much as you can.
• Don't micromanage. Lots of people say they aren't micromanagers but they micromanage anyway. This is because micromanagement isn't as well-defined as we think it is. Essentially, if you feel you need to consistently and directly supervise the work of each employee or that you need to do the work yourself to get it right, then you're guilty of micromanagement. Step back and let the team you hired perform their jobs. If they can't, you may have personnel decisions to make.
• Demonstrate appreciation. Finally, don't forget to show your appreciation for work well done. Managers who only communicate with their employees when it comes to negative performance or behavior will instill negativity into their team. Praise good work. Say thank you regularly. Let your staff know you appreciate what they do in the office and give them additional responsibilities as they earn them.

Do you want to know more ways you can improve as a manager?