I am sure that every manager, business owner, entrepreneur, net-worker, team builder, religious leader, non-profit director… has faced the issue of loyalty at some point or other.
Loyalty is the end-goal of a well-traveled mountain path littered by barriers and detours.
I’m sounding off on the topic, as I ponder on this after 2 years of developing and overseeing the growth of a non-profit. The core program of the non-profit I belong to provides community relief in the sector of housing counseling; with ancillary programs of youth development, community education, and food drives.
The initial mission was targeted towards youth development, but as the housing crisis blossomed the need for housing counseling services grew. The foundations activities are sustained by the members and the community it serves.
We brought in the first core of close acquaintances and taught them in the areas of marketing, team building and housing counseling. Providing countless hours of training via website information, conference calls, quarterly training and many selfless one on one sessions.
Many people came through the unseen doors of The Helpful Hands Foundation receiving more than they ever gave. Some were in foreclosure and learned key points on home preservation and lender requirements. Many were at the doors of court houses and were empowered with hope; armed with confidence and knowledge they were able to talk to judges and attorneys and restore home ownership. Thousands of dollars were saved not to mention the agony and despair of being left out on the streets.
In a period of two years over 2,000 people were saved from foreclosure.
In those same two years we watched over hundreds of people come into the housing counseling work program of the non profit and… we watched them leave. People were paid on commission. What ever money came in for services was all disbursed back to the counselors. Incentive was built into the same commission so that a management team could oversee the work and get compensated for helping the non profit grow and train more counselors. This effort would maximize the community outreach.
Today The Helpful Hands nonprofit organization consist of a handful of dedicated ‘true grit’ people.
What pains me is that those that I’ve seen how many will be ruled by ‘money’… money is their boss. Not loyalty to a cause.
The Cause at The Helpful Hands Foundation: Helping People. The motto: “helping one hand at a time”
How do we help? Through service.
Many say they like helping people… but that support comes when they pay their bills.
Is your organization filling a need? What kind of need? Does it create jobs? Does it fill an emotional need? Does it educate others? Does it advocate for those less fortunate?
I still find myself with the initial question, how does a non profit create loyalty when people are looking to make money? I believe in its motto of People helping people. What a novelty cause: people helping people!!?
Why would anyone want to join a non profit and take up its mission and crusade (or church, company, team etc)?
Again, I find myself at the mercy of God defining my mission as one that serves the many. Reminding myself that if I share my knowledge, my love, my compassion then in His wisdom I will be blessed.
If you are a leader and believe in your company, if you believe in its mission statement, if you believe in touching peoples lives… then let that define you. Become the best at your trade whether it be leadership, recruiter, trainer, manager.
On the other hand, if you are a leader and believe in the money your position can attract. Then let that define you and follow the money.
Don’t stay in a company where you will not be fulfilled (whether you are the founder or a manager).
If you are a hiring manager, recruiter or trainer (church leader, business owner etc)- remember you are influencing the make-up of the organization by the people you bring and train; and it is a privilege to be a mentor to someone. The opportunity of interaction and giving to another human being is priceless.
I have learned that many people place ZERO value on knowledge that is given freely or even emotional goodwill they receive from a kindred spirit. If they don’t see it with their eyes, if they can’t touch the results with their hands you just haven’t done enough for them.
I have been a trainer for over 25 years and I’ve embraced with much pain the lesson from the above sentence and practice the Catch and Release philosophy.
Many walked through doors of The Helpful Hands Foundation and this has allowed me to be on many Catch and Release expeditions; in these expeditions some were saved from foreclosure, others were hungry and were fed, and I’m not talking just about food… I’m talking about knowledge. Knowledge that now is theirs to grow and share with others.
The Helpful Hands Foundation the non profit that changes peoples lives.
Your actions will soon DEFINE… YOU.
