Remember the preflight safety instructions flight attendants rattle off every time you get on a plane? Who is supposed to get the oxygen mask first? Not the helpless child. You. Did you struggle with that idea the first time you heard it? Do you still struggle with it?
Nonprofit organizations, particularly social service ones, tend to spend all their resources on the clients, preserving none for the staff. But, like giving away the oxygen before you’ve secured it for yourself, it sounds compassionate, but is not a long-term solution.
Employee-Centered Management suggests practical initiatives that social service organizations can take to better care for their employees and create a work environment that encourages workers to buy in and grow personally and professionally. The result is a win-win: more innovative services and better ongoing care for your clients.
Designed for use as a discussion and training tool, this guide offers supervisors and managers a list of activities that will help organizations not only survive, but actually enjoy sustainable success.
Stop leaving your employees on the verge of burnout. Instead of automatically giving all available resources to the client, learn how to give the right resources to the right people in the right order.