Connection Café: Don't Take Your Staff's Engagement For Granted

	Don't Take Your Staff's Engagement For Granted
	Posted by Chris Bailey at Jun 25, 2008 07:31 AM CDT Categories: Productivity

Once upon a time, I worked as a membership development director for non-profit professional associations in Washington, DC. The core functions of my work centered on new member recruitment and current member retention, both of which were (and still are) incredibly important to organizational health. I always pitched to my staff, executives, and Board of Directors that members are the lifeblood of the association. Without members - who bring their dues, participation, and energetic passion - there would be no association. Common sense, right?

But then, I would follow this with something usually less obvious: without an engaged staff, there would be no members wanting to bring their dues, participation, and energetic passion. Too often, professional associations and non-profits expend so much of their focus on what lies outside, they can overlook the very people who make things happen inside every single day (don't worry, for-profits are not immune either). There's a reason why many non-profits are not run solely by members or volunteers. It's because the professional paid staff have the experience, skills, and talents to help members and volunteers achieve great organizational goals.

If you're in a leadership role for a non-profit, take some time today to think about your staff and whether they're truly engaged in their work. Because non-profits are usually mission-driven, it's easy to take employee engagement for granted. But an engaged staffer who has the ability to use their unique strengths, talents, and passions on a daily basis is far more likely to deliver the kind of remarkable service that attracts new members or constituents and retains them.

Here are a few questions to ask. Start by answering yourself and then pose them to each staff member during your one-on-ones:

Are you able to use your own unique strengths, talents, and passions everyday in your work?

What would you like to be doing more of that will help you grow your strengths?
Are there barriers that keep you from bringing your best to your work every day?

Deeply listen to what is said and learn from what you hear. Then make a point to take action and openly communicate that action and results to your staff. Just don't push this under the rug. And don't let your employees feel invisible. That's a sure-fire way to kill engagement and create the kind of service culture that loses both employees and constituents.