Don’t Go It Alone: Engaging Staff
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
How often do you feel like you’re working alone?
No matter how big or small your organization is, it’s easy to sometimes feel like you’re on your own. And if you’re not dealing directly with clients, that feeling happens more often than not.
It might be easy to say, “I can do it” or “I don’t need anyone to help me” or “I’ve been doing this for years”. But thinking you can do it alone is a recipe for overwhelm and burnout.
So, how do you get others—colleagues, board members, volunteers, etc.—to support you? Here are three of my favorite ways:
Communicate: Be open about your goals, and how the achievement of those goals benefit the entire organization. Regularly update staff on your progress.
Recognize: Recognize those who participate. You can even have a “Colleague of the Month” award—a small gift for someone who’s gone the extra mile volunteering at an event, sharing a client story, or helping to stuff envelopes.
Educate: Help them understand that fundraising is more than just asking for money. It’s technology, brainstorming ideas, sharing stories—and that there are lots of ways they can share their passion for the organization.
Remember, you don’t have to go it alone. Pick one easy way that you can begin to engage others in achieving your goals, and try it. You’ll be surprised how quickly you feel more supported and less overwhelmed.
A reminder that the Overwhelmed Fundraiser’s Personal Planning Guide mini-course is available now, and for the month of January 2025, you can get it for FREE! All the details are here–use coupon code NEWYEAR2025 when you check out.
