| by Terry Axelrod, Founder and CEO, Benevon
Re-Ignite the Passion for Your Mission
Part Three
Rediscover why you are involved with the organization
and learn to re-inspire others.
As you grapple with getting the latest grant and the day-to-day
duties of nonprofit work, it’s easy to feel removed
from what you are causing in the world. But once you can rediscover
why you are involved with your organization, you can learn
to inspire others. This simple exercise will help you re-ignite
the passion for your mission.
First, take the time to consider what it is that has attracted
you to your organization’s mission. Ask yourself: Why
did I get involved with the organization in the first place
and why have I stayed involved there? What is the real reason
that this organization is important to me?
Be honest with yourself and write down your answers. It is
crucial that you stay in touch with whatever it is about the
organization’s mission that moves and inspires you.
That may mean taking a break from the mundane, everyday tasks
every once in a while to reconnect with your passion. If you
are involved at a school, this may mean visiting classrooms
and spending time with the students; if you are involved at
an animal shelter, it may mean spending time with the animals.
For a powerful experience of re-igniting the passion of others
involved with your organization, consider incorporating a
“Passion Retread” exercise into a group gathering.
Most nonprofit organizations do very little to nurture their
board members, volunteers, and staff. For many board members,
board meetings and occasional committee meetings are the only
times they really think about your organization during the
year. Staff members and volunteers may be so caught up in
mundane tasks that their initial enthusiasm is waning as well.
Passion Retread is a simple exercise that reconnects people
with their initial passion for your mission. It retreads the
tire of your passion that may have worn a little thin. It
can be done in a group, one-on-one, or all alone.
The most natural venue for the Passion Retread exercise is
at a retreat or informal group meeting where there is some
initial time for socializing. It doesn't need to take long
or get sappy. A good leader or facilitator can keep it moving
along. Without making a big deal of it, the group will be
re-energized and reconnected to your mission quickly.
As people sit down to begin the formal part of the meeting
or retreat, ask them to introduce themselves and to say why
they got involved with the organization in the first place
and why they have stayed involved.
People will rarely say, "Because my boss made me."
They may even surprise themselves by blurting out the real
reason they're here: "My wife has this disease we are
working to cure," "My son had a drug problem like
this," "I was once a single mom and terrified of
being homeless," etc. The truth just spills out, and
in the process a deeper connection is made between the members
of the group.
Some of the stories may be very personal and moving, whereas
others may be amusing and even silly. All participants will
gain a deeper respect for each other. People come to appreciate—and
be more tolerant of—the quirky or challenging members
of the group.
In the end, all who participated in the exercise will have
renewed energy and enthusiasm for telling the story of the
organization to the community. They will be reminded of just
how important the work of this organization is and why they
want to help out.
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For more information, visit http://www.benevon.com/.. |
