Thursday, July 17, 2008

Today's Nonprofit Wonder - Your Idea of Yourself

There are lots of things a warrior can do at a certain time which he couldn't do years before. Those things themselves did not change; what changed was his idea of himself.

Carlos Castaneda

Friday, July 11, 2008

Today's Nonprofit Wonder - Human Resources

Human Resources - what exactly is that? We know it has something to do with how we hire people to work in our nonprofit. All that legal stuff to be aware of in case we have to fire someone. Ensuring that all the proper federal and state forms are filled out for the IRS. But is that all?

Of course not. Human Resources = Human Capital. And like any kind of capital, you don't want it to decrease in value - you want it to grow! So grow your employees! The nonprofit environment, although getting better, isn't always in the position to offer big salaries and lots of pricey perks. But there are lots of other ways to support your employees and keep them enthusiastic and up-to-date with their jobs.

Trainings and professional development. This doesn't need to be high-priced conferences - you can find lots of learning opportunities in your community. Every employee likes a day away from the office to network and hear about ways to make their workday more enjoyable and productive.

Recognition. Even the smallest organization should maintain some type of employee recognition program. Believe it or not, a Certificate of Recognition goes a long way with some employees - inexpensive but it shows the employee that management is noticing and appreciating the good work.

Retreats. Again, they don't have to be held at fancy resorts - but away from the office is a must. Coming together as a group and engaging in team building exercises and planning activities is a great way to get the blood flowing and the enthusiasm way up there. Just make sure the retreat is followed up with some action coming out of the meeting - otherwise the end result will be exactly the opposite of what you want.

Employee Suggestion Program. Encourage employees to speak up and freely express their opinions regarding organizational plans and projects. They are your most valuable resource and they are experienced and dedicated - why not see what they have to say?

So, go take a walk and see what's up out there!