After one week of working with an NGO we realize how hard it can be to stay on track. It seems to be the nature of an NGO to save the world and this mission can be quite contagious. As a business professional it’s our job to stay focused and deliver results. But is this really only a job? When someone decides to do a social sabbatical the person leaves family, friends and job for at least 4 weeks. I think it’s fair to say that the least one can ask for is, to have made an impact when the assignment is over. |
But such aspiration might collide with the day to day working style of NGOs pretty quick. They wouldn’t need our help if structure, organization, marketing plan, IT, etc. is in place already. Therefor you find passion, new ideas and new opportunities every 10 min, and people with endless endurance. They never lose hope that someday the big breakthrough will come, as it all is just a matter of time and luck. But it’s not luck alone! It actually is a solid business plan, marketing plan, value description, structure and focus, focus, focus! Do a thing, but do it right and deliver. And tomorrow again! This is what differentiates successful NGOs, successful start-ups from the rest. And if you see the idea, your mission doesn’t fly – stop it. Don’t waste time and money. It’s not the right time, not the right circumstances, it maybe the founders fault. It’s hard!
But here is the challenge with the NGOs: They have a social mission, which you cannot write down in numbers and make a fact based decision. The rising question for a volunteer consultant doing social work is, whether we are allowed to make them understand they should either focus & deliver or die? And how to do this without being to confronting? In my opinion we have to tell, we are change agents. If we don’t, there might not be much left after we leave. The chance that a few operational issues have been solved during the assignment, but afterwards the NGO falls back into old habits is too high.
This is a chance to lead by example. We must face the risk that the NGO people are disappointed for a day because we seem not to fulfil their day to day wishes. But we have the opportunity to make a longer term impact with a solid strategy and concept. This is how we are going to start the next day.
But here is the challenge with the NGOs: They have a social mission, which you cannot write down in numbers and make a fact based decision. The rising question for a volunteer consultant doing social work is, whether we are allowed to make them understand they should either focus & deliver or die? And how to do this without being to confronting? In my opinion we have to tell, we are change agents. If we don’t, there might not be much left after we leave. The chance that a few operational issues have been solved during the assignment, but afterwards the NGO falls back into old habits is too high.
This is a chance to lead by example. We must face the risk that the NGO people are disappointed for a day because we seem not to fulfil their day to day wishes. But we have the opportunity to make a longer term impact with a solid strategy and concept. This is how we are going to start the next day.