October 23, 2017 Making Decisions, Managing People Well, Organisational Strategy

How “design thinking” can change the way your NFP works

Are teams in your organisation open to new ways of working?

While “innovation” may be something everyone says they love, when push comes to shove, convention and tradition – ‘the way things have always been done’ – often rules supreme.

That’s because innovation can be risky, unproven – and scary. But given that not-for-profit organisations deal with some of our society’s most important problems, the need to apply creative solutions in order to make an impact is even more important – particularly with a rapidly changing external environment and increasingly strained budgets.

Enter “Design Thinking”.

September 13, 2017 Organisational Strategy

How are smartphones affecting your staff’s performance at work?

Smartphone use is a relatively new office challenge, emerging with the rise of social media and the smartphones which make Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the rest accessible at any time, and in an instant.

But this instant access is changing the way our brains work, training us to constantly demand and expect updates from the external world, and potentially creating a constant distraction from the present moment.

That’s why this new research is worrying.

September 4, 2017 Organisational Strategy, Surveys, Awards & Advocacy

Get involved in the largest ever study on – and for – Australia’s NFP workforce

Want more insights into your staff and volunteers, and how they compare to others in the NFP sector? The Australian Not-for-Profit Workforce Study wants to help!

The largest ever survey on and for NFP organisations, employees and volunteers, the Workforce Study is aiming to identify what matters most for making Not-for-Profit work healthier, more meaningful, and more productive.

Here’s how to get involved . . .

August 7, 2017 Human Resources, Organisational Strategy

Claiming a seat at the table: why and how HR should be playing a key role in your NFP’s strategic planning

Who’s involved in setting your organisation’s strategy?

Traditionally, HR wasn’t a part of the strategic planning process in most organisations. People considerations were more of an afterthought or a response to the strategy that was already set by senior management.

But in the rapidly changing Australian NFP sector, can organisations afford to leave HR expertise and perspective out of their strategic planning processes?

July 12, 2017 Managing People Well, Organisational Strategy

How the NFP sector needs to respond to the rapidly changing landscape of work

You’ve probably noticed that the world of work is changing fast – probably faster than ever before.

Driven by technological changes, generational shifts and increasing demands for flexibility from both employers and employees, we’re rapidly leaving behind the traditional idea of the workforce to make way for new ways of working.

So how should Australian NFPs approach the changing landscape of work?

May 29, 2017 Human Resources, Managing People Well, Organisational Strategy

The case for greater flexibility at your NFP

Dr Clare Allen is on a mission.

As CEO of VisAbility – Guide Dogs Ltd in Western Australia, she knows that work-life balance can be challenging for many people working in the NFP sector – particularly those in more senior roles, and for those in frontline services juggling high client work-loads with admin and/or management responsibilities.

That’s why she wants to spread the word about how organisations can move past a focus on “work-life balance” towards a vision of a much more flexible “work-life harmony” that empowers staff to achieve more powerful and healthier results.

April 10, 2017 Human Resources, Legal Issues, Organisational Strategy

Is your NFP doing enough to protect whistleblowers?

NFPs aren’t doing enough to protect whistleblowers.

That’s according to the largest survey ever into the topic, examining policies and procedures around whistleblowing at over 700 organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

Protecting whistleblowers is crucial for stamping out fraud or wrongdoing. This post explains exactly where the problems are, and key areas your organisation should focus on to improve.

April 5, 2017 Health & Wellbeing, Organisational Strategy

Could flexible work be damaging the lives of your staff?

Flexible work is on the rise everywhere – particularly in Australia’s not-for-profit sector. But could working flexible hours have a dark side for employees?

In this guest post, Dr Heejung Chung outlines new research which finds that when it comes to work/life balance, having the freedom to work flexibly might not always be a positive force in the lives of employees.

April 3, 2017 Giving Feedback, Managing People Well, Organisational Strategy

Why justice matters in NFPs – and how to make your workplace fairer for everyone

Have you ever considered how fair or “just” your behaviour at work is?

It matters more than you might think. In fact, research shows that if managers behave fairly their staff are more likely to feel committed to their jobs and perform better overall.

The good news is that justice can be embedded into the culture of your organisation – particularly through the improvement of policies and procedures – which can ultimately improve the impact your not-for-profit organisation is able to make.

March 22, 2017 Human Resources, Leadership, Organisational Strategy

The top three areas of HR that Australian NFP organisations need to improve

Do you know what your staff are thinking?

As part of our annual survey of the EthicalJobs.com.au community, last year we asked jobseekers who are currently working in the NFP sector to tell us what advice they’d give their current employer to “help improve the workplace, processes and practices in your organisation?”

Almost 1,000 people responded to the question – anonymously of course – and the results provide a fascinating insight into the state of NFP organisations through the eyes of their staff.