Janet closes her office door and sits down at her desk, hoping for a quiet moment to think.
Another resignation. Holly—a talented, energetic employee who came on board just 18 months ago, excited to join the mission—has given her notice, citing “bigger opportunities” and “better compensation.”
Janet knows that’s not the real story. Holly left a bigger paycheck at an exciting corporate job to come here in the first place. She was passionate about their nonprofit work. Their shared vision and values fit so powerfully into Holly’s life story—just as they did Janet’s.
“What’s really going on?” Janet wonders. Though she has no trouble recruiting and onboarding new employees—it’s hard not to be excited about joining this team striving to make a genuine global impact—retention has been a struggle. In fact, they have a far higher turnover rate than the corporate world averages. Holly is Janet’s third resignation already this month.
Rising from her desk, Janet grabs her keys and heads out to an off-site lunch meeting. As she walks through the building, she notices eyes averting hers and clusters of people talking softly, looking disgruntled. Oh, to be a fly on those cubicle walls. Janet feels a fresh wave of frustration. While the most talented employees tend to leave after a year or two, others tend to stay—maybe overstay—growing increasingly upset and untrusting. Sometimes, it feels that long-time employees are sabotaging their shared mission.
Janet is fed up. Getting into her car, she concludes what she has often suspected: the men and women who work in this organization simply don’t have the passion for ministry they attest to having on their applications. They’re selfish and lazy, unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices. Or if not, something is wrong with them.
And the gap between employee experience and leadership perception widens another yard.
When we at Best Christian Workplaces meet with nonprofit leaders like Janet, they often feel we’ve been reading their minds, asking us: How did you know?? We know because we’ve been asking leaders and employees questions for decades, and we’ve been listening to their answers and their stories. We know that nonprofit leaders are drawn to the mission of the organization—just as their employees are. They bring a personal sense of passion to their daily work and are not afraid to sacrifice for it. But often, these executives and managers wind up feeling forced to work against their staff or find a way to succeed despite them—rather than feeling like an effective team heading toward the same exciting mission outcomes together.
When we at Best Christian Workplaces meet with nonprofit leaders like Janet, they often tell us, “It’s like you’ve been reading our minds!” That’s because we’ve spent decades listening to both leaders and employees, gaining valuable insights into their experiences and challenges. We know that nonprofit leaders, like their teams, are deeply passionate about the mission and are willing to go the extra mile for it. However, despite their commitment, leaders can sometimes feel the weight of navigating complex dynamics, where it seems like they’re working hard to align everyone’s efforts but still struggle to achieve the cohesive, mission-driven outcomes they envision. These challenges are common, but with the right tools and strategies, leaders can foster a sense of unity and shared purpose across their teams.
Though Janet will likely never be invited to the cubicle chats that precede a resignation letter, it is imperative that she gain insight into her employees’ level of engagement. She knows the organization’s mission inside out but doesn’t yet see the workplace culture.
At Best Christian Workplaces, we know how to give her those insights. Download our Essential Guide to Employee Engagement for Nonprofits and gain valuable insights tailored to nonprofit leaders. This guide will show you how to strengthen workplace culture, boost employee engagement, and implement practical steps to build a more engaged team in your nonprofit.
Reach out to Robert Wachter, global marketing director with Best Christian Workplaces, for more information about our employee engagement survey. Schedule a meeting today.