The New Job Security

Conditioned ways of thinking are changing all around us, everyday. It's easy to spot fellow co-workders who are determined to stick with the familiar, the routine, and find that a safe place to be. In terms of job security, many of us began careers being taught that if we were punctual, fulfilled our job descriptions, that we would have a job as long as we wanted it. That day is over.

A new day is unfolding in the workplace that promises to tap talents we may have not used before, skills we can apply in new ways, and connections with co-workers that could lead to exciting breakthroughs in our work and our sense of value. By shifting our mindset from a job description fulfillment approach to asking ourselves one key question everyday, we can reframe our thinking and excel in an entirely different way that keeps us in the ever-changing flow of life.

Think about who you are beyond titles, jargon, and job descriptors. What do you do on a daily basis that makes your business (for profit or not-for-profit) better? Learn to articulate that! It's a mindset shift that can change everything.

What we owe young professionals

In this month's issue of The Long View, consultant and guest columnist Regan Brown identifies the emerging needs of young professionals in the nonprofit development field and what senior level managers can do to nurture this human resource.

What's incredible is that the situation Regan identifies is one that mirrors my own experience entering the field two decades ago! Even Regan begins her article by mentioning her own first employer who was "tough."

Exactly what is the common thread here that threatens the talent and energy of yet another generation of inspired professionals? More importantly, how can we stand by and let it happen?

To read Regan's article, click here and go to Free Resources to find the article, Young Professionals: Can't live with them - can't have a future without them..

Today's entry-level professionals are not like ones in the past. These have options, other ideas, and are very well connected. They can also start their own organizatons if frustration levels get high enough. Further, their talent and passion is needed in every community and that need increases every week.

If you are fortunate to have young professional talent on your staff, take care of them. Notice Regan's reference to "your boring data entry tasks...". Take more care of your young talent to be sure they understand the big picture of what your organization does. Check the article for insights and tips.

To get your free copy of The Long View, please click here and scroll to the sign-up box on the left.

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Discovering a New Prosperity: Leaders First!

A 103-year old woman in a retirement home where my mother lived cruised the halls everyday behind her walker - she was fast! ...always smiling and happy. On her
104th birthday I asked her suggestions for achieving a long life.

She said: "I don't do negativity. Of any kind. When I'm seated with people who are complaining, I get up and leave. No negativity. It doesn't exist for me."

Negativity becomes a default: "There's not enough money." "Our board doesn't get it." "Nobody's doing what they should be doing," "We'll never make out goals and it's going to be tough," etc.

Negativity is an energy drain and a choice that takes a tremendous toll on the body with headaches, sadness, frustration, sarcasm, resentment, and more.

The truth is, many of us aren't really aware of how often we take a negative stance. It's a default frame of mind. As a leader, it begins with you. Are you ready to shift from a negative stance?

An Exercise
For one day, write down every negative thought you have. Is your first thought in the morning something like, "good grief, another day at work." Write it down. Driving into work, you think, "this traffic is terrible and I'll never make it on time." Write that down. If, when the phone rings at your desk, you think, "oh, here we go, it's starting already," add it to the list. Looking at your desk you think: "I can't possibly get all of this done and here comes more" as you sit down to begin your day....make a note.

Notice every time a negative thought enters your head and write it down. At the end of the day, is your list longer than you imagined it would be? Do this for another day. Keep going until you notice the list getting shorter and shorter. You'll be surprised how easily you can shift your negative default.

What will happen is you'll re-program yourself to choose another perspective. You'll choose a more positive one and this will create a shift in subtle and profound ways in your life.

Are you ready for change? Choose it. You have to become aware of your negativity before you can change it. Just try this exercise and see how you feel after a few days. Getting out from under negativity changes everything!

You'll also set a new example with ripple effects in the office and at home. If you're a leader, your responsibility is to look at yourself first.

From Chaos to Peace

In the moments before childbirth, there is anything but peace, as one body rids itself of what can no longer survive inside. On the other side is profound beauty and grace as the newborn enters the world. We experience joy at new life. The cycle of life and growth is continued in that birth. It's time for a celebration! An ending of one phase of life, pregnancy, has ended so that life in a new form may begin.

The business world and, indeed, our lives in every respect, are changing that much, too. As familiar systems continue to break down, and morph into new processes needing different strategies for success and longevity, we must hold the same expectant perspective as when a child is born.....see it with eyes of wonder and delight of the joy that is to come, determined to support it with all of our resources. Determined to see it thrive.

The following is adapted from Gloria Karpinski's Blessings for This Time of Gathering:

May the fragments of our vision be whole.
May we simplify, clarify, love, and heal.
May we find peace in interconnectedness.
May we be poised in the chaos of change.

Childbirth is our finest example of change. From one perspective, there is discomfort, pain, anxiety, uncertainty. And even amidst all of that, there is joy ready to burst forward so that life may be fulfilled.

What is your perspective on change? You get to choose. Will you experience change as chaos or joy? How will you show up? As a leader with quiet confidence and poise?

Choose poise.

A Thanksgiving Question

Who is behind your success? Rarely is any achievement the result of the efforts of one person. It just doesn't happen that way, although, our society seems to encourage that singular view.

In nonprofit development,it is common for credit for gifts to reflect in performance evaluations. I've even heard professionals argue over who had the most substantive conversations and interactions with a donor and why one or the other deserved more credit for the gift. This is a sign of poor management. It's not sustainable either for the organization's fundraising track record or for employee retention.

Who gives you moral support? Who keeps you focused on why you work in nonprofit at all? Who gives you good ideas? Who do you turn to for a joke or to break the monotony of a bad day?

Thanksgiving 2009 is marked by another question: What matters? This question will come up over and over again as our world continues to change in unexpected ways. You're going to find that you turn back to a simpler life. One driven by values. You're going to find that you de-clutter your desk, closets, even your mind, and that this helps you focus on what really matters.

This Thanksgiving, consider people who support your success.

Be Inspirational and Do Good

Doing good is a matter of the heart- it's not only done when times are bad or even when times are good. It's just done because it's the right thing to do and because it produces such a high to help someone else.

I hear about all the trouble nonprofits are having and what I see is different. I see people coming together - more volunteers, more commitments, more reporting in the media about how a creative idea saved the day for a nonprofit. These times are challenges not because of the economy, but because we are experiencing a lot of change. The biggest change is a change of heart.

I think communities are taking stock of what matters at the local level and trying to make the most of resources that are available. The economy pressures this....it is good, and it is time we took stock of what really mattered. We have everything we need to take care of each other....if we take stock of what really matters.

For nonprofits, this is a time of true leadership, of being the voice of light in the perceived darkness. Maybe nonprofits should move beyond being recipients of generosity and use the support they have to express a new, stronger voice - a voice of hope, strength, love, and creativity.

Each nonprofit has the opportunity to stand out as a beacon of love and light and when it does, the others of us know that that beacon represents a network of other compassionate people, a board, volunteers, staff, donors, vendors, etc. That's heartening.

It's time to choose optimism. Decide that whatever happens to the economy, or the weather, or even with public health, that you, you will take your fuel from the voices of wisdom around you that express joy, hope, and love for the challenges of life that bring us closer together. Choose your sources of inspiration so that you may lead more confidently.

I liked what consultant Alan Weiss said in his Monday Morning Message: There are people who profit from a prolonged downturn, so their interest is in spreading only bad news and in perpetuating fear. There are others who profit from an upturn and who want to find places to add value as people are able to recover. Find, listen to, and associate with the latter group. There is no contribution in perpetuating and profiting from others' misery. As George Merck noted, "Do good, and good will follow."

Let people follow you. Be the voice of wisdom and hope in your community.