Burnout: Signs and strategies for every nonprofit professional

Something of a sector buzzword, employee burnout remains a perplexing phenomenon. The 1970s-coined Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) defines it as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Heavy workloads and stress put employees in all sectors at...

Attracting the best and brightest: Five strategies for nonprofits

Talented managers in the nonprofit sector are in short supply — or so they tell me. Yet I talk daily to people with excellent qualities, abilities and education who are interested in nonprofit careers. What's really going on here? On...

Human Resources Q&A: I’m afraid my job is at risk

My employer just asked me to complete a questionnaire about my job. Some of my answers will show that the job isn’t conducted the way it was several years ago when I started and I am concerned that my job...

Treat them like professionals and they’ll play like professionals

These were Governor General David Johnston's words of advice to the nearly 500 delegates at the National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector. While the anecdote recalled his own experience as a child playing hockey, His Excellency set the...

How to effectively manage conflict

Conflict is well defined by the Chinese proverb that says there are three truths: your truth, my truth, and the truth. Conflict can play out with co-workers, in boardrooms, among volunteers, at annual meetings with members, and in working relationships...

Returning from a leave of absence: Four stories

It's not unusual for people in the nonprofit sector to take extended leaves of absences from their jobs. While the most obvious reason may be for the birth of a child, an increasing number of people in the sector are...

Human Resources Q&A: Providing references

I am often asked to be a reference for staff or to provide a reference letter. Recently I was asked to provide a reference for a staff member who was difficult to work with. Should I be careful about what...

Knowing what’s right and failing to do it

"To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice." ~ Confucius Volunteers and staff have all experienced a wayward member who is considered the loose cannon in the organization, known for wreaking havoc on boards and...

Job posting success: 12 tips from the experts

Creating a great job posting is one of the first steps in a successful hiring process. A well-crafted job ad will not only attract the right quality of candidates for the job, but will also increase the likelihood that applicants...

Staff retreats on a shoestring

For the typically cash-strapped nonprofit, a staff retreat can seem like a luxury, reserved for private companies with revenue to spare. But organizing a staff retreat on a budget is not only feasible, some executive directors argue it's a necessary...