Stepping UP
A quick google search on the challenges facing the NPO sector in SA came up with a long list that poses everyday obstacles that anyone operating in the sector needs to get over. The most important being limited and unsustainable funding, regulatory burdens, the need to adapt to increasing social needs and capacity constraints. The details on each are definitely worth exploring (and maybe that’s the subject of another blog post), but on my mind today is capacity and professionalism within our sector.
Over the years I have been honoured to have met countless, selfless individuals, who stepped forward when a need, a crisis, or just a plea for help came across their paths. We often refer to these amazingly generous people as “having a heart for others, for their communities”. They are willing to give everything they own in order to ease the plight of another. We have stories of individuals using savings, their pensions and even offering up their homes to meet the ever increasing social need for care and support of the very young, to the frail and elderly and everything between. But sadly, this is just not enough anymore.
Gone are the days when having a good heart would mean doors, and purses open to provide assistance. Sadly, over the years the NPO sector has been plagued with unsavoury characters, finding ways to manipulate a system and take advantage of the goodness of people.
Now more than ever, every member within the NPO sector has to build capacity to operate organisations as well oiled, efficient entities, based on business principles, but rooted in the essence of love and goodwill to man. John Maxwell, the doyen of business leadership, popularised the concept of The Law of the Lid. That the growth and reach of an organisation is limited by the ability of its leadership. But here’s my challenge, Leadership can get you very far, but the work, the purpose, the mission has to be carried out by the collective team.
When you look at your team, from the top all the way along including our volunteers, what sets you apart from so many NPOs in our country. Does your team have the managerial and organizational capacities to effectively manage your NPO? Does your team have the capacity to implement and deliver services? How would you rate your professionalism , and is your lack thereof undermining your credibility and effectiveness in the community.
In order for our South African NPO sector to thrive well into the future, it is not good enough just to step forward. We need the determination coupled with the skills, the knowledge and the passion.
But all is not lost- it never is!!
When the reflection is done, and the gaps identified- what need to change? What needs to be learnt? What and how can we continue to build capacity in our organisations? Every member of our team has the ability to learn, to improve, to do better.
We can’t just step forward- we need to STEP UP!!
Thanu Payadachee