If you want to be a great boss in the nonprofit sector, it’s important to begin with the assumption that the people hired by your organization generally work hard and want to do a good job.
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There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. However, you’ll want to do your best to default to giving people the benefit of the doubt. When something isn’t going well, instead of jumping to conclusions, inquire. Be curious. Ask questions.
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A simple, “Is everything okay?” can often reveal a lot about a person and their situation.
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Being a Better Boss Starts with Caring
When you ask, “Is everything okay?” really mean it. Take time to listen to the answer. Don’t encourage (or enable) a perfunctory “yes”. Probe a bit and show concern.
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A great example of what NOT to do…
A friend’s daughter, who is a camp counselor this summer, was given a hard time after wanting some time off because she was sick. According to the camp, she wasn’t sick enough to warrant more medical attention (than they could provide — essentially Advil) or even a day off for old-fashioned rest and relaxation, which her mother was insisting on.
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When she returned to camp (after being told she would be fired if she wasn’t back the next day), her boss asked if she was okay, while running by.
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Now, I understand they (and you) are trying to run a business (or a nonprofit in your case), and it’s hard to be short staffed. However, good management starts with treating your people well. The Golden Rule applies — do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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If someone tells you they can’t work or seems to be falling down on the job, it’s your job as their superior is to listen and learn more. Being a great boss is all about unlocking your staff’s potential. Help them be the best they can be. That doesn’t mean propping someone up or accepting bad behavior, but giving people the tools they need to succeed.
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6 Tips to Be a Great Boss in the Nonprofit Sector
Care and concern starts with you, as does setting a good example for others to follow. With that in mind, here are six tips to help you succeed and be the very best boss you can be.
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1. Assume the best.
Give the people you’ve hired and invested in the benefit of the doubt. Take a moment to check in and find out what’s going on. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand their decisions and behavior from their perspective. That’s often enough to clear up any misunderstandings.
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2. Take the long view.
In the example above with my friend’s daughter, threatening to fire a counselor during the second week of an eight-week summer program because she requested a few days off was extremely short-sighted. If she had quit or been fired, the camp would have been short-staffed for six weeks instead of a few days. (Note that this was a counselor who had attended the camp for nearly a decade — not someone the leadership team had just met.)
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3. Penny-pinching isn’t wise.
Like “taking the long view,” penny-wise, pound-foolish isn’t a cliché for nothing. Investing in staff development, giving them days off, and providing a great work environment are all ways to keep staff happy. Happy staff are more likely to stay in jobs longer, and investing in staff is a wise investment in the long run.
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4. Loyalty is important.
What was so distressing (as a parent and as an employer) about the camp situation is that the camper/counselor had been at the camp for nearly 10 years. At the first sign of trouble, there were threats to fire. I understand that the counselor was departing mid-day, leaving them in a lurch, however good bosses understand that life happens… to all of us.
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5. Respect requires respect.
If you want to be respected as a boss, it’s important to respect your team. I hope it goes without saying — no yelling. Give your team trust and autonomy until they prove otherwise. If an issue arises, discuss it after tempers have calmed. Set clear boundaries. If the situation doesn’t improve after putting forth a valiant effort to fix it, then your can take steps to terminate.
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6. A little kindness goes a long way.
Look for opportunities throughout the day to be kind to your team. Go out of your way to let them know when they are doing a good job. Paying attention and providing praise goes a long way toward building mutual respect.
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I’m a Boss, and I’m Still Learning
I’m working hard on being a better boss. Supervising others is hard. It takes work and new skills. Over the last few years (at Capital Campaign Pro) I’ve learned a lot.
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I have a team of amazing, smart people reporting to me for the first time in my career. And I’m learning to be a better boss every day. I can be accused of micro-managing as well as waffling on decisions. However, I’m confident I’ll never be accused of disrespect or being unkind. And I’m working on getting better every day.
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Leadership is hard. But being a “bad boss” is not something I ever want to be known for, and I hope you feel the same. Feel free to share any additional tips in the comments. I’m happy to learn from you, too.
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Amy Eisenstein, ACFRE is one of the country's leading fundraising experts. She speaks internationally at fundraising conferences and to nonprofit board about raising major gifts and capital campaigns.
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