Human Resources Q&A: Pushing and pulling – why people change jobs

In our organization, we've been conducting exit interviews for about two years. When departing employees are asked why they're leaving, fully three quarters state that they've been offered more money elsewhere. But I know that our pay is competitive within...

Self-renewal within the nonprofit sector

When entering the nonprofit sector, people often find themselves drawn to organizations that align with their values. They feel energized by their passion for the cause and, over time, they develop their career and contribute to the mission of the...

Career Q&A: How to deal with an unhappy coworker

I work in a small office for a not-for-profit organization, and I like my job, but I work right next to someone who is VERY unhappy with her life. I have noticed over the past few months that I am...

Human Resources Q&A: Managers are the key to employee engagement

I saw some results from a survey on workplace engagement levels. Apparently, 29% of employees reported that they were engaged with the work of their organizations. This doesn't strike me as being terribly high. With the emphasis that's been given...

Competing for talent

One of the top trends facing the not-for-profit sector on an increasing basis is competing for quality staff with other employers. In my experience with not-for-profit hiring over the past decade, I have witnessed an evolution in what employers in...

Leading change

There has been much research done on the effects of change on an organization and an individual. The approach to change has an impact on how well it is received and the level of resistance people will feel and act...

Working with staff and volunteers

Most organizations are not at the stage of seeing paid and unpaid staff as a "team" to accomplish the mission/goals of the organization. If they did, many of the challenges that are centered on volunteer-staff relations might not exist. Here...

Governance Q&A: The underperforming virtual employee

When I took a new executive director job, I inherited an employee who maintains our online presence, part-time, and has done so for many years. She works virtually (from hundreds of miles away), has no phone and doesn’t answer my...

Five key elements of the succession planning process

Succession planning is not about replacing an existing employee. The purpose is to prepare the organization and develop its "bench strength" for future organizational requirements. There are five elements to managing a succession process. 1. Identifying key positions for which...

Human Resources Q&A: Treading water makes for unhappy employees

I read recently about a spike in suicides in Europe that were apparently provoked by workplace troubles. Is this a recession issue, or is there something else going on? Yes and yes. The Economist, in its October 10, 2009 issue,...