Research has shown that organizations that build robust infrastructure—which includes sturdy information technology systems, financial systems, skills training, fundraising processes, and other essential overhead—are more likely to succeed than those that do not. (Citation:  http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_nonprofit_starvation_cycle/)

Many organizations under prioritize the importance of investing in their staff  – whether that’s  providing technical training, developing leadership skills, building team unity, and so on. In the nonprofit world, this piece is often overlooked because of the pressure to allocate all resources to programmatic work. Often times, we forget that building staff capacity will enable agencies to conduct their work even better.  For example, when an organization works on team building, communication and collaboration improves which can increase efficiency in the delivery of programs.

So how do we build team unity? There are innovative ways to increase team unity amongst your staff without a huge cost to the organization. Two weeks ago, Families In Schools staff participated in a photo scavenger hunt in the Downtown Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. The objective of the retreat was to serve as an opportunity for FIS staff to connect to one another, build unity, and develop team work and leadership skills through a series of challenges. The staff was divided into teams of 4-5 staff and each team was responsible for completing 22 photo challenges that related to the mission of the organization. For example, one challenge was for the team to take a picture of FIS staff reading a book to children as they promoted Family Literacy Month. Take a look at some of the challenges and related photos, by clicking HERE.

Staff had the following to say about their experience:

Felicia Jones, Advocacy Specialist – “After working really hard, it was nice to have fun and learn to challenge, stretch, and support each other in a dynamic team setting.”

Jose Cisneros, Program Coordinator  –  “It brought me closer to my coworkers on a personal level as we collaborated together.”

The retreat was an opportunity for our organization to reconnect with one another and strengthen our collegial relationships. Building trust amongst staff is what enables an organization to work as a team effectively, communicate directly, and work together efficiently towards achieving the same mission and vision.

Survey

We want to hear from you! Please share with us your thoughts on the following question:

If you are a principal, nonprofit leader or corporate executive, what investment would you make in supporting the development of you staff?

Submit your response, by clicking HERE.