The Great Resignation is Knocking on Nonprofits’ Doors. Coaching Can Help.
The great resignation is here. Not only in corporate America or in service jobs, but in the nonprofit sector too. Many people within the nonprofit sector are thinking critically about where they work, what type of career they want to have, what type of impact they want to make, what type of culture and accountability are in the organizations they work for, and what type of balance between work and life is important to them. And they are making changes. Moreover, there are many people leaving corporate America and considering new careers in the nonprofit sector. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

The challenge is this – how do we retain and attract top talent for our organizations during this great resignation? While working for nonprofits can be very fulfilling, the culture of the sector is one that also values sacrifice, wearing multiple hats, moving mountains with little resources, and a ceaseless dedication to the cause and organization one works for despite the impact it has on an employee’s personal life. This part of the nonprofit sector’s culture is not healthy or sustainable, and it often leads to employee burnout. That burnout is a driver of the great resignation. And it has a negative impact on nonprofit organizations because it causes diminished employee engagement, expensive and time- consuming staff turnover, and ultimately less positive impact on the communities and causes we serve.

The great resignation, while challenging, can also be a catalyzing opportunity for our sector to address the underlying issues within the culture that lead to burnout. And it can be an opportunity for the sector to attract exceptional new talent by recruiting people who are seeking more fulfilling careers. We have a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the passion that draws people to seek a career in the nonprofit sector and to be a leader for the future of work in America.

One way to begin making this change is through coaching. Coaching has been proven to enhance employee performance, improve employee engagement, empower staff, boost teamwork, enhance​ ​working relationships, and lead to higher employee satisfaction[1].

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as partnering in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires a person to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.

Providing your leadership teams and emerging leaders with executive coaches is an impactful way to invest in their wellbeing, accelerate their growth, and ensure that they have the tools and support they need to be sustained in this sector for the long haul. By making coaches more readily available to employees within the nonprofit sector, we will begin to create the healthier work models, life balance, and boundaries that so many people are currenting seeking through the great resignation.

Offering access to executive coaches will not only positively impact the individuals receiving the coaching – it will also lead to culture change. When organizational leaders are being cared for and invested in, they are better able to care for and invest in others across their organizations, creating healthier cultures. Furthermore, when organizations incorporate coaching skills and coaching models into their day-to-day work, the possibilities for culture change are endless.

Coaching is also a great benefit to utilize when attracting new talent. Offering a professional coach to new employees sets the tone that organizations care deeply and are invested in their staff. And it offers new hires the support and tools they need to get clarity on how they want to show up in their organization, the impact that they want their work to have, the work relationships they want to form, and the type of culture they want to contribute to through their actions.

Experienced coaches will work with new hires and existing staff alike to get clear on what’s important to them in the workplace and the actions to take and skills to build to get the results they seek. Coaches will also provide accountability to their clients to support their growth. And they can work with organizations to institutionalize coaching models and skills. This, in turn, can begin to transform the nonprofit sector into a healthier culture that retains and attracts top talent and invigorates passion for serving communities and causes over the long-term.

No matter if you look for an individual or a team coach for your organisation, ICF recommends you check on their training and credentials. It is important to choose a coach with the right niche and experience to match your needs. Do not hesitate to request client references or testimonials and make sure to discuss fee, terms, confidentiality, cancellation policies right up front and last but not least, require a coaching agreement.

The great resignation is here. It’s knocking on the doors of nonprofits. Let the professional coaches answer.

If you need support on your organisation’s and leader’s coaching journey, do contact us at ICF and our team of volunteers in the UK will be happy to help.

Nadia Tonova is the Founder & Principal of NHT Consulting, an organization that empowers leaders and organizations to thrive through coaching and consulting. She is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. You can learn more at www.nhtconsulting.org.

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The great resignation is not only impacting corporations – it’s impacting the nonprofit sector too. And while this can be challenging, it can also be a catalysing opportunity for our sector to address the underlying issues within the culture that don’t serve our staff, as well as an opportunity to attract exceptional new talent. Coaching is a powerful tool that you can use in your own organization​ ​to reinvigorate the passion that draws people to seek a career in the nonprofit sector and to be a leader for the future of work in America.

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Nadia H. Tonova is the Founder and Principal of NHT Consulting, which empowers leaders and organizations to thrive through coaching and consulting. Passionate about caring for those who work on the front lines, Nadia uses her executive coaching to support nonprofit and social justice leaders in their professional and personal growth while fighting burnout and centering joy in their lives. She is a Certified Associate Coach through the International Coaching Federation.

Prior to this, Nadia served on the leadership team of ACCESS, the nation’s largest Arab American nonprofit, for over a decade and was responsible for numerous teams, organizational strategies, and fund and program development.

[1]​ ​https://coactive.com/what-is-the-tangible-roi-of-coaching/

ICF Chapters are local communities of ICF Members. The UK Chapter brings our global organisation to life at a national and local level. We build, support and preserve the integrity and standards of the coaching profession in the UK. We were the first ICF Chapter to be established out of North America and since founding in 2000, we have grown to be one of the largest, most active Chapters, with over 3,000 members.