On May 18th, 2024, I interviewed Anisha Kapoor on not-for-profit culture and how it impacts the well-being of staff and community members. Anisha is a lifelong not-for-profit specialist with experience working for large and small organizations. The event had four attendees and two speakers, all of whom were from other organizations with their own expertise. Key themes from the discussion included:
- Office culture post-COVID
- The impacts of not-for-profit culture on society at large
- The nature of individual responsibility for collective decision-making
The key takeaway of the event was that not-for-profits are often phenomenal organizations that do impressive work, but that they rarely compensate or retain staff properly. One reason for these challenges that the onus of successful team management is placed on the individual who is expected to work longer hours simply for the sake of the cause. Accordingly, all not-for-profits need to foster a culture where staff are not just intrinsically motivated to do good, but adequately motivated through proper compensation and a supportive environment.
The discussion questions for the event were as follows:
1. Are team dynamics pre-determined, or can they change? Does the goal of a team determine what culture guides it? For instance, will a charitable organization attract a specific type of person more likely to think a certain way, or can an effective leader change (or guide) a group to reconsider core values or practices?
2. What is the nature of team accountability? Holding bad actors accountable for big mistakes is a practical part of keeping a team together. Unfortunately, judging intentions is complex, and patience is essential to success. How do organizations root out problematic people while balancing forgiveness and decisiveness?
3. Effective communication is vital in responding to complex team dynamics. At our best, we all have different communication styles. What can be done to foster an environment where everyone can be their authentic selves and feel comfortable expressing concerns to each other in a genuine way?
4. How can the not-for-profit sector become a leader in reforming culture in society at large? Many organizations, especially progressive ones, have practices from which the wider world can benefit. How can these practices be transmuted?
Dakota McGovern 