In my nearly 15 years of working with nonprofits, I’ve witnessed trends in leadership and organizational behavior. One of the most worrisome trends is the gap between the values nonprofits proclaim and the values they live. My experience, and those of my peers, underlines a critical disconnect that demands attention.
Last December, while serving as the Director of Organizing at an organization I’ll refer to as “P,” I encountered a personal emergency that required me to adjust my work schedule. Despite offering solutions to ensure my team’s work continued uninterrupted, my attempts at communication were met with silence, and upon my return, I was unexpectedly laid off. This experience is not unique, nor is it the most egregious example of the value gap in the nonprofit sector, but it illustrates a pervasive issue: the lack of appreciation, accountability, and flexibility within organizations that claim to champion justice and equity.
The Cost of Dissonance
This dissonance between proclaimed and practiced values not only undermines employee morale and trust but also directly impacts the communities we serve. When team members don’t see their organizations living their values, they are less likely to embody these principles in their community work. Furthermore, the high turnover resulting from such dissonance is not just a loss of talent; it’s expensive and diminishes organizational effectiveness through the loss of institutional knowledge and trust-building efforts.
Bridging the Gap
How can nonprofits bridge this gap? It starts with living the values they champion, but it doesn’t end there. Here are actionable steps to foster a culture of integrity and accountability:
- Implement Regular, Purposeful Check-Ins: Go beyond task updates to engage with employees about their well-being, perceptions of the organization’s values alignment, and their needs from leadership. This creates an environment of open communication and trust.
- Develop a Values-Based Leadership Program: Focus on training leaders to embody organizational values in all aspects of their work. Leadership should be about trailblazing and working alongside the team, not merely directing from a distance.
- Create a Values Alignment Task Force: This group should regularly review organizational practices to ensure they reflect the stated values and identify areas for improvement. Including staff from various levels and departments will enrich this process with diverse perspectives.
- Embrace Flexibility and Trust: By training and supporting managers and teams in remote work and flexible scheduling, organizations can demonstrate their trust in employees to manage their responsibilities effectively. This approach, inspired by the positive culture at Emerge, values employees’ ability to balance work and personal needs, reinforcing trust and respect throughout the organization.
- Adopt Transparent Decision-Making Processes: Especially in the face of difficult decisions like restructuring, organizations must communicate openly about how and why decisions are made and provide ample support for those affected.
- Encourage Advocacy and Boundary Setting: Foster an environment where staff feel empowered to discuss their experiences, understand their value, and advocate for their needs without fear of retribution.
- Promote Self-Care and Professional Boundaries: Organizations should support mental health through policies like mental health days, “no email” hours to ensure rest, and access to wellness resources. Leadership must model these practices to validate their importance.
Through these actions, nonprofits, especially those working in civic engagement, can begin to realign their practices with their proclaimed values, building a foundation of trust, integrity, and effectiveness. This alignment is not just about internal harmony; it’s crucial for the impactful service delivery that lies at the heart of our work. As we strive to create change in our communities, let’s also commit to embodying the principles we advocate for within our own organizations. Together, we can build a sector that is not only effective but truly reflective of the values we hold dear.