March 8, 2017 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources, Recruitment

Unconscious bias is keeping women out of senior NFP roles, but we can get around it

Most people would not consciously decide to hire candidates based on whether they remind them of themselves. But one unconscious bias – affinity bias – may lead people to favour candidates who are like themselves, research shows.

If senior managers and NFP boards are made up of mostly men who unconsciously engage in such bias, it stands to reason that more men than women will continue to be hired and promoted – particularly men who share the same background with current managers. This only serves to perpetuate the cycle of men outnumbering women in leadership positions.

So what can be done?

March 6, 2017 Volunteer Management

Six rules from the experts for effectively managing volunteers

Joe McCannon is the founder and CEO of the Billions Institute, which supports organisations in the social sector worldwide to take local successes to a global scale, and trains thousands of others to lead transformative movements.

He says that mismanaging volunteers is one of the most common sources of failure for large-scale efforts at social change. And in turn, that a well-structured volunteer experience “can build sustained, collective action and generate enormous creativity”.

March 1, 2017 Change Management, Organisational Strategy

Four key ingredients to building an innovation strategy for your NFP

“Innovation” is all the rage in Australia right now. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged an “ideas boom”, investing billions of dollars to promote private sector innovation.

But what about NFP organisations? NFPs need to innovate too, even though it’s by no means easy.

February 22, 2017 People Analytics, Recruitment

The three recruitment metrics that Australian NFPs say it’s most important to track

More than one quarter of Australian not-for-profit organisations aren’t tracking even basic data about their recruitment processes, according to the latest Not-For-Profit People survey. But for the other three-quarters, which metrics are the most – and least – tracked, and which are considered the most valuable?

February 15, 2017 Health & Wellbeing

A paw-some way to help get through those ruff days: why your organisation should foster a workplace pet

From reducing stress to increasing staff engagement, the benefits of having pets in the workplace are widely acknowledged.

Now one charity is helping organisations to access the benefits of an office pet, while simultaneously giving unwanted pets a second chance at life.

February 10, 2017 Interviewing, Making Decisions, Recruitment

Five unconscious biases that could be ruining your NFP’s recruitment process

Are unconscious biases ruining your NFP's recruitment process?

Hiring the right people for the right job is arguably one of the most important responsibilities in any not-for-profit.

But what if there was something interfering with your ability to do just that – and you didn’t even know it?

February 6, 2017 Health & Wellbeing, Human Resources

The last taboo: is your organisation’s approach to mental health in the workplace failing your staff?

What if we told you that even if you have a mental health policy at your organisation, it’s likely to be woefully outdated and could be costing you dearly in reduced staff well-being, engagement and performance?

January 25, 2017 Human Resources, Managing People Well

Five principles to begin designing a great employee experience at your NFP

Traditionally, not-for-profit organisations have focused their energies on the needs of their clients or issues, since they’re ultimately the reason for the organisation’s very existence.

But how can you be more deliberate about the ever-important staff experience – and boost engagement and productivity in the process?

January 23, 2017 Health & Wellbeing, Organisational Strategy

Five myths that could be causing staff at your NFP to burn out

It’s no secret: in the NFP sector, burnout happens.

But according to one NFP leader, there are some common myths about the sector that feed this culture of burnout.

January 18, 2017 Health & Wellbeing, Legal Issues, Managing People Well

Putting staff first: this legal ruling should change the way your organisation considers its duty of care to staff

How does your organisation balance the sometimes-conflicting needs of your staff and clients?

A recent landmark legal ruling highlights the potentially dire consequences of failing to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of your staff.

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