As we wind down toward the end of the year, we’re all thinking of ways to make 2010 better than 2009. The good news? It can hardly be worse! Still, getting over the holiday blues–especially if end of year giving is as lackluster as expected–may be tougher than usual to pull off, but with these couple tips, you’ll keep your team engaged and start the year off with a bang.
1. Less mission statement, more message. Don’t get hung up on stuffy language for a mission statement to hang on your wall. Instead, think about who you are, what is most important to you, and what you do to benefit your community. Remind both your volunteers and your staff why their work is so important in very simple terms.
2. Celebrate ALL gifts. Too often, staff and volunteers don’t hear about gifts unless they are at the very highest level. It’s important to celebrate all the larger gifts (as well as the smaller ones in aggregate). The goal is to provide everyone with the opportunity to have lots of celebrations along the way, not just major celebrations at the conclusion of a campaign or when the largest gift of the year is secured. Small victories, medium victories, and big victories – they are all worth celebrating. The real purpose of the celebrations, remember, is to remind people of the progress that is being made toward a wonderful goal.
What's YOUR New Year's resolution?
3. Set specific goals.
Getting motivated is also so much easier to do when expectations are clear. Give your staff challenging (but achievable) benchmarks to meetm, and revisit these goals often. Don’t just celebrate end of year successes; set short-term goals and when they’re reached, let your staff savor the moment. The trick is to take some time (or even a whole day) to think about all the good you’ve done. Allow your team to take some joy in their accomplishments, let them know how proud you are and that you have confidence that they’ll deliver the same in 2010.
4. Do the numbers. Once you’ve determined how much money your team helped you raise, share how that money will be spent. “Because of your hard work, 100 more kids will go to camp this year. Because of all you do, this cancer wing will be built.” Make the results real and their impact the reason for these successes.
5. Get back in the game. Over the last year, so many non-profits have been terrifed into inactivity by the economy. They’ve stopped ASKING, they’ve put all efforts on hold waiting for the storm to blow over. Well, while it ain’t over yet, the skies are definietly clearing and you don’t want to be the ones caught indoors while someone else is splashing around in the sunlit puddles. Get out there! Bold, brave leadership will tell your team you believe in them and in your mission. It may feel like activity at first but, once you get rolling, this busy-work will transform into purposeful, meaningful action again.
Have a happy holiday and if you need us in 2010, remember your Captive Consultant will be right here. Tied to the EZ chair with Christmas lights…
