Non-profit organization facing major disruptions? Methods to help your team strategically adapt

There is an adage that change is constant; sometimes, this especially rings true. Non-profits face significant funding changes, as recent reports highlight federal, state, and local budget shifts. On top of that, the needs of the communities they serve have been actively shifting. As these shifts occur, these organizations are required to adapt to the needs of their constituents while also coming up with new ways of keeping their organizations going. There is the pressure to do more with less.

In these turbulent times, non-profits need not only funding strategies but also effective ways to adapt collaboratively and strategically. Non-profit organizations facing change can significantly benefit from using facilitative tools that engage their employees and constituents in methods that promote shared meaning. Skillfully utilizing collaborative methods for strategy and adaptation is a great choice, as it can unleash a rich resource that is readily available: innovation, aligned effort, and cooperative action.

Collaborative Facilitation Methods: Engaging the power of teams

While times are challenging, many employees now seek meaning in their work more than ever, which is another reason to engage them. Engaging employees during tumultuous times may be precisely what your organization needs, unleashing a powerful source of energy, passion, and innovation. So, how can we tap into the resource of employee leadership and desire to drive effective adaptation during these times?

“The Change Handbook” by Peggy Holman and others highlights over sixty methods of engaging the voices of teams, including one that may be appropriate for your specific need. Holman et al. state that “engaging in dialogue before deliberation helps ensure that members of a group are open to others’ opinions and perspectives… This leads to a more open and thorough examination of all possible outcomes, resulting in better decision making.”

An important note of advice is not simply to put it on employees to “figure it out.” Engaging employee voices requires a skillful approach, intention, and engaged leadership. A skilled facilitator/organizational development consultant can help you discover the best process for your organization at this time.

Strategic Visioning: One method that could help

Last year I worked with the Long Beach Black Worker Center to identify concrete steps using a facilitative method called Strategic Visioning, developed by The Grove Institute. With this approach, a team is brought together to identify past, present, and envisioned future realities through visual brainstorming. Through this comprehensive member-engaged approach, the Long Beach Black Worker Center was able to identify critical aspects of where their organization is at this point in time and where, collectively, they envision it being in the future. They developed a clear, forward-facing vision that everyone on the team was aligned with and could work towards collaboratively.

Strategic Visioning could be an excellent tool for many community service organizations undergoing change as they re-evaluate their strategy under new social conditions and changing funding landscapes. Through the method of recognizing the context of their strategy, such as economic climate, political factors, uncertainties, and other trends, organizations can use Strategic Visioning to set “bold steps” that are rooted in their values and that lead to their vision.

In Short

If you are a leader of a social service organization facing difficult times, you’re not alone: You have a wealth of passion, knowledge, and innovative solutions right in front of you in your team. Start by identifying a pressing question your organization faces, engage the support of experienced consultants, and consider using a facilitation method that brings employee voices into the conversation. With the support of a skilled consultant or facilitator, you can help carry your organization’s mission forward during trying times.

Operate Well provides expert facilitation and consultation services to organizations facing change, using many of the methods found in The Change Handbook. We help organizations that are growing, changing, or confronted with complexity find organizational alignment, clarity, and flow so people can thrive and their impact can grow.

Curious about how Operate Well can support your team in this time of change? Schedule a free 30-minute discovery session to explore options tailored to your organization’s needs.