When It's Not Happening

Nothing breeds dissatisfaction and resentment faster—and to high levels—than unmet expectations.

The governing board expects the organization to fulfill its mission. (Read: "I didn't sign on to be seen as an also-ran."

The executive expects to demonstrate his or her effectiveness to their boss—the governing board. (Read: "I want my board with me and behind me." or "I really want to keep my job.")

Program staff expect to have the resources at hand to execute their duties professionally. (Read: "Those fundraisers need to understand the urgency of what we're doing.")

Fundraisers expect their efforts to yield the level of monetary success they’re seeking.?(Read: “reaching goals”)

Donors (AKA “investors”) expect their dreams to be fulfilled. (Read: "When someone talks about MY dreams, they have my 125% attention.)

When these aren't met, it's the train wreck of unmet expectations.

In an aligned organization, all the expectations are met.?Continually.

Yes—that can, and does, happen.

In most organizations, there is a high likelihood that at least one set of these expectations aren’t being met.?Usually more than one.

This is when friction or drag is introduced.

It shows up in unexpected places.?Far removed from the source.

Because each of these expectations are interdependent with the others.

When this happens the focus is put on what’s not happening.?How do we remove it.?Quickly.

Rock in your shoe. We want it out, now!

Knee jerk ideas hit the fan:

Should we engage in strategic planning to clarify our mission??That always makes things appear better.

Does the executive director need leadership training?

Is our fundraising staff doing the “right” things??Are they beating the bushes hard enough?

Are our programs really meeting needs?

Continuing to focus on what’s not perceived to be right grinds the organization down while creating resentment among those being “targeted”.

Dysfunction builds.

Almost never does anyone raise the issue of alignment.?Where everyone has a common understanding of what they’re about and how the bills get paid.

How novel. What a concept!

Organizations which have a fundraising culture that’s in alignment—where everyone understands their role and acts upon it—are amazingly aligned in the other ways, as well.

Funny how that works.

When everyone appreciates their role in development and maintain momentum, friction is reduced to near zero.

Alignment is purposeful.?An active choice.?A continual effort.

Alignment, rarely, if ever, occurs on its own.

The best way to achieve—and keep it—is to make it a priority and use what’s called continuous learning.

If you have business or corporate experience, you know this approach well.?It’s the gold-standard for leadership and employee education.

No high-performing business spends a lot of time on episodical outside intervention training. That is soooo last century. A relic of the industrial age.

Here's a brief video that describes the ideas behind it and how it works:

To distinguish this approach from typical nonprofit fundraising training here's what Continuous Learning is NOT:

• A one-shot topical session at a conference where you get a few nuggets from someone that may or may not be applicable to your situation. (Although highly-touted, the presenter may have little understanding of your situation. In this way, it's a real tease.)
• A training session where participants are seated classroom style listening to someone talk at you using 12-point slides. (Sounds like slow death, to me.)
• A session that, when finished, leads you to wonder how you will ever convince your peers and board to "buy in". (Feels like water torture.)

Continuous Learning is designed to engage complete teams of adults. It uses teaching techniques created for adults. Kinetic. Written. Aural. Project based. It's working in teams to learn, build a plan of action and execute.

Best of all--it's appropriate and meaningful to everyone in your organization from the most senior board member to the most junior staffer.

Here at The Eight Principles, we have the only continuous learning program for nonprofit fundraising on the planet.?(And it’s pretty damn good, as well.)

I'd love to share it with you. (I'm kinda proud of what we've created.) Arrange a call and we'll give you the Cook's tour.

Oh—and did I mention what happens when expectations remain continually unmet?

It’s a train wreck.?And only a few survive.

But you knew that already.

To Your fundraising Success,

Larry C Johnson, Founder, The Eight Principles