When working for a non-profit, you are also working for yourself. By that, I mean that you are doing what you do because it brings you joy to help others. You do it because being able to help someone help themselves not only empowers others, but because doing good empowers you. It takes a certain type of person to be able to go into the non-profit field. If you are one of them, this is for you. (And if not please feel free to read on and enjoy anyway.) Because you are so passionate about the line of work that you do, you will do anything to make it work. Anything.
A lot of non-profit work is group work. Not like college group work where one person ends up doing the entire project, but work where everyone wants to be the person to do all the work. Everyone wants to be a part of the finished project.
Here are some tips to help improve your group ethic within a non- profit organization:
- Create tasks.
Usually in group meetings you create a long list of things to accomplish, but sometimes you may forget to designate who will be in charge or responsible for what. Take 5 extra minutes to see who has the strongest skills in certain areas, and see if they are willing to be in charge of that aspect of the project. This will help everyone feel like they’re putting their best work into it.
- Set deadlines.
Everyone is on different deadlines. They may think it will be okay to hand in or finish something when it is convenient for them, but sometimes another group member may need an aspect of their work to complete theirs. Work together to figure out a schedule, and make sure it’s reasonable and efficient.
- Talk face to face.
It’s important to meet in person. Group chats and emails can be misread and it’s hard for everyone to express their ideas. Make sure that you find time throughout the project where everyone can get together, even if it’s just for twenty minutes. This will help relieve stress and tension and make the project run a lot smoother.
- Victoria Lydon, '17