You're navigating feedback in the nonprofit sector. How do you ensure it leads to positive change?

Feedback is an important means of monitoring the health of an organization and ensuring your individual perspective is not getting in the way of progress. You can leverage the feedback process to keep people engaged and identify the most promising solutions. Here are some steps that have worked well for me: 1. Invite feedback often. Ask individually and in group settings. 2. Say thank you, even when negative. Dismissive/negative responses will quickly dissuade people from speaking up. 3. Seek understanding, not agreement. Ask questions! 4. Repeat back what you heard. Are we talking about the same thing? 5. Avoid being the first to offer solutions. Contribute as a facilitator, not a dictator. 6. Reflect with objectivity.

A iniciativa de dar feedback permite o aprimoramento contínuo e o reconhecimento do que vem dando certo. Esse processo n?o apenas fortalece a transparência e a accountability, mas também promove um ambiente de aprendizado e adapta??o. Ao compartilhar opini?es construtivas, as organiza??es podem identificar áreas de melhoria, celebrar conquistas e alinhar melhor suas estratégias. Em um setor onde o impacto social é a principal miss?o, o feedback se torna uma ferramenta poderosa para maximizar resultados e promover mudan?as significativas.

Every piece of feedback is valuable and deserves consideration. When someone shares their thoughts, it reflects their investment in the organization. Whenever possible, create quantifiable feedback avenues, such as using a scale to rank experiences from 1 to 10. This approach helps analyze high volumes of feedback. For feedback that can't be easily quantified, like a donor’s unsolicited story, categorize it into manageable themes. Was the donor happy or upset? What was the reason for the call? If it’s a negative experience, what potential solutions could be explored? Who is best suited to address the issue? Lastly, what is the follow-up plan, and how will the organization determine success?

Engaging stakeholders in the feedback process is vital for implementing successful changes and solutions. Actively seeking input not only shows a commitment to improvement but cultivates a sense of ownership among those impacted. Including a diverse array of perspectives, you ensure that different viewpoints are considered, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions. This collaborative approach strengthens relationships, enhances transparency, and encourages innovation. When everyone has a seat at the table, it fosters an environment where ideas can flourish, collaboration is the norm, and solutions are thoughtfully considered for long-term sustainability.

Being in charge of a large charity myself, we are always looking to verify the impact that charities are making with the funds that we have donated. It is important for large donors to have that data. For instance, we help fund a charity that provides free counselling for people who are suicidal. Once they go through their program, they ask each client to complete a survey and one of the questions they specifically ask is whether the therapy has stopped all suicidal ideations. They have a specific number of clients who have said that the therapy has saved their lives. As a donor, that is exactly the kind of impact we are looking for.

You've sought feedback, engaged stakeholders, and initiated the change process, but six months later, organizational priorities have shifted, impacting your work... While it’s crucial to keep your mission and vision central to every decision and project, staying adaptable in response to changing circumstances is just as important. Who could have anticipated the impacts of COVID just six months before March 2020? When crafting strategies or plans, it’s essential to recognize that things rarely go as expected. Always have a contingency or backup plan so that when challenges arise, you can successfully pivot as the situation demands.