Nonprofit Workers and Volunteers Can Find and Foster Shared Work Values

It can sometimes seem like those working in a nonprofit agency or organization couldn't be a more mismatched group. While we can choose many of the individuals in our lives, in most cases, we just do not get to choose our coworkers, regardless of whether we are committed to the same causes or not. With a bunch of people who come from diverse backgrounds, have various education histories and work experiences, finding a way to focus on the shared goals of the workplace can be a challenge. It is important to find and foster the shared work values you DO have in order to make work time productive.

We are not talking about finding shared political or religious ideals here (unless that is part of the nonprofit mission or cause you are working on), but finding the points where we agree on work-related issues. For example, if everyone in your team agrees with the need for strong oversight or an improved service, focus on this. A shared work value regarding good customer service can also be a way to rally everyone toward a shared goal. When you think of team-building, think of how the shared process is what makes a team strong. Differences can be a good thing and contribute to the diversity of opinions and approaches, but having those shared work values gives the team joint direction.

Meetings and group processes can be a good way to find these shared work values. It can also be helpful to hire new employees (and volunteers) with some of these "cultural" considerations in mind. Interview questions can be created to find out how prospective employees feel or believe about certain issues that are core work values for the workplace team. Encourage these shared values with rewards or projects that require a strong sense of teamwork as members work together on a shared goal.

While nonprofit employees will and should be different and bring various skill sets, experiences and value systems to the workplace, having and encouraging some shared values around work ethic, customer service and other areas can be an important way to build a cohesive and functional team.