CULTIVATING GRATITUDE AND IMPATIENCE

Nancy Long Executive Director

501 Commons

WHY WE SERVE

Most people want to: Commit to a meaningful purpose Choose (or have a say) in how that purpose is fulfilledMaking sure we are performing competently, and Make progress to achieving the purpose

GRATITUDE IN THE NONPROFIT CONTEXT

The Culture of Scarcity Challenging business

model Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

Misleading reporting & overhead phobia

Unrealistic expectations Pressure to conform

THE SCIENCE OF GRATITUDE Studies have found that gratitude is good for our bodies.

When we are feeling grateful:Lower blood pressure Less pain Take better care of ourselves Sleep better

Count your blessingsnot sheep!

RESULTS OF THE PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE

Individuals Healthier, stronger immune systems and

lower blood pressure; More joy, optimism, and happiness; Acting with more generosity and

compassion; Feeling less isolated. Recover faster from negative

experiences See the positive or good in others Increased self-worth as you notice

people who are supportive of you.

Organizations Staff are happier, stay longer Organization finds ways to stretch and do

more when needs arise Leaders are known for their support of

others, willingness to help, advise or mentor others

Organization has stronger relationships Organization sees and takes action on

opportunities. Greater resilience ***

BUILDING A CULTURE OF GRATITUDE INTO YOUR BOARD

Why Grateful people

Get along well with others,

Accomplish more Are more giving and

more forgiving Are resilience to trauma

How Thank board members for their work Show planned and impromptu gratitude

to staff Write thank you notes or make thank you

calls to donors Reach out to donors and discover what

about your organizations mission speaks to them and why

In each board meeting ask people to share something they are grateful for

LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE WITH DONORS Studies show that the number one

reason nonprofits lose donors is due to donors feeling unappreciated. 

Treat donors as partners   Talk about impact and organizational

ambition not lack or needs You aren’t simply asking your donors for money. Similarly, you aren’t thanking your donors for money.

You are giving them to opportunity to have a sense of purpose

WHAT DONORS WANT

Commit to a meaningful purpose Choose (or have a say) in how that purpose is fulfilledMaking sure we are performing competently, and Make progress to achieving the purpose

HELPING YOUR ORGANIZATION MAKE GRATITUDE A HABIT

Why An organization with a culture of gratitude will:

See and act on opportunities others will miss.

Accomplish more Attract and hold on to talented

employees Be more resilient

How Thank board members for their work Thanks volunteers in a specific and

personalize way. Recognize staff who have gone above and

beyond in a specific way Conduct debriefs at the end of a project or

when reaching a milestone to celebrate accomplishments and re-energize around a goal

Thank donors – especially in unexpected ways

RESILIENCE

From Resilient Organizations (New Zealand)www.resorgs.org.nz

Gratitude

Impatience

WHAT CAUSES YOU TO “STEP OUT OF LINE”

WHEN IS IMPATIENCE GOOD? WHEN IS IT BAD?

Impatience is good when: it motivates us to reach our goals. Or reevaluate and set a new goal. it motivates us to reduce the costs or increase the efficiency of

working toward our goal. It gives us courage in the face of obstacles

Impatience is bad when: It damages our relationships to others It causes us to fall into cynicism or negativity It adds stress to an already difficult situation

WHAT ARE YOU IMPATIENT ABOUT?

CRITICAL THINKING IS NOT CRITICISM Keep your impatience

compassionate if you want people to hear you.

We are educated to have a natural bias toward negativity. Criticism is seen as insightful and smart.

Find ways to structure in a bias for action rather than critique or criticize.

THE THREE QUESTIONS BOARDS SHOULD ASK & ANSWER

18

Board’s foundational work Question 1. Understand the community need the organization exists to address

Why do we exist?

2. Determine how the organization will respond to that need

What we do and how we do it?

3. Specify the end results the board is asking the executive to achieve

How will we know if we are succeeding?

THE BOARD REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY

20

ExecutiveMeans

Board Ends

Board and Executive Partnership

HOW BOARD DIRECTS THE EXECUTIVE

21

Set ambitious goals and outcomes Clarify

What do you want to be sure the Executive does?

What do you want them to avoid doing?

22

Coach: “Get to the goal line but stay inbounds”

Identify the end results you want

Identify the limitations: things we have told you to do or not to do

Allow the executive the freedom to respond to situations ‘on the field’

END ZONE

Create a safe zone so the leader can be successful

“Gratitude takes us outside ourselves where we see ourselves as part of a larger, intricate network of sustaining relationships, relationships that are mutually reciprocal,” he writes.

“… gratitude is not only a response to kindnesses received, but it is also a motivator of future benevolent actions...”

What three practices of gratitude can you put in place in your board and/or organization?

SUMMING UP: GRATITUDE

SUMMING UP: IMPATIENCE

Hone the critical thinking skills of the board Impatience can prompt commitment, action, and insight Do you really want to just help a little here and there? Or do

you want to solve problems and make significant change happen?

What three issues are you going to lean in on in order to accelerate the pace of change?

RESOURCES - GRATITUDE

Gratitude definition page: The What, Why, and How of gratitude “Pay It Forward,” by Robert A. Emmons “Why Gratitude is Good,” by Robert A. Emmons “Ten Ways to Become More Grateful,” by Robert A. Emmons Pieces on gratitude from Christine Carter’s parenting blog, Raising Happiness “Love, Honor, and Thank,” by Jess Alberts and Angela Trethewey “Stumbling Toward Gratitude,” by Catherine Price Key gratitude books, studies, and organizations. And take this gratitude quiz to learn how grateful you are!

RESOURCES - PASSIONATE ABOUT IMPACT; IMPATIENT FOR PROGRESS

http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/nonprofit-board-governance-falls-short-study-finds

http://www.lasallenonprofitcenter.org/good-year/ http://

www.firstnonprofit.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Evaluating-the-Executive-Director_Your-Role-as-a-Board-Member.pdf

http://www.tccgrp.com/pdfs/per_brief_tenkeys.pdf

501 COMMONS

www.501commons.org 206-682-6704 or 1-888-462-4853 Statewide Nonprofit Resource Directory: http://

www.501commons.org/resource Personalized assistance: guidance on nonprofit topics, help finding

relevant resources, and referrals to trusted nonprofit specialists, contact Matt, our Information & Referral (I&R) Program Manager. matt@501commons.org 206-682-6704 x10