Everyone can see it except the person driving poorly.
You have seen it a million times, some jerk cuts you off, doesn?t signal, or is all over the road. These are the same people who believe they are really good drivers, don?t really need to change their driving habits, but have plenty of complaints about others on the road.
It Is the Little Things
Nonprofit management can have parallel problems: it is super easy to see what the others do wrong, but maybe not as easy to see what could be better about how you do things. And often it is those little things, such as the turn signals or moving up a little so the guy behind you can make that right turn that can make such a huge difference in how your constituents see you.
But how can you tell? Running any nonprofit organization is tough and has many special considerations from fundraising to advocacy to the expectations of your board, membership and programs. The solution is paying attention to the details, being aware of how those around you perceive how well you are driving the management car.
Some Signs that You Might be Driving Erratically
Below are a few areas to check and see how smoothly they are functioning. These are the nuts and bolts of your operation. If these things are not working well, you might have a problem to address.
1. Take the temperature of your staff: are they efficient, pleasant and reliable? How does their behavior come across to the public? Are their interactions with members and guests respectful and timely?
2. Are the tasks they are supposed to perform being done to high standards and quickly or do things fall off the side of the desk? Are reports done accurately and on time or do things need to be fixed or done again?
3. If not, what is not working and why? A single, unhappy staff member is one problem, several unhappy staff members is a management issue.
4. Are visitors and guests welcomed and thanked? Do they want to visit again? Are their questions answered or do they leave, never to be seen or heard from again? What do they tell others about their experience with you?
5. How quickly and creatively are donors acknowledged and thanked? This is such an easy and automatic thing to do, yet quite often overlooked. If you think your donor doesn?t really care about how fast their gift is noticed, and the sincerity of your gratitude, think again. This alone is one of the greatest reasons for donors to never give again after the first donation.
6. Are your donors relationships cultivated? Are they contacted for more than another gift or deluged with requests? What do you know about them: why they joined or what they want from their membership?
7. Are the achievements and results you have done tangible, visible and measureable? How is this information shared and distributed?
Take the time to look critically at how the outside world views you.
Check to be sure the tasks that are so essential to your work and progress are being done well and on time. Assuring a phone inquiry is answered promptly, a donation of any size is acknowledged and thanked immediately will make a huge difference in your relationships internally and externally.
And be sure to put on your turn signals.
Need some help managing your mechanics? Let us help you keep these systems running smoothly so you can concentrate on where you are going. Call us today, questions are always free. 310 828 6979
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image credit: https://soverybasic.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/what-if-im-a-really-bad-driver-and-nobody-told-me.jpg