Jamie Bearse is joined by Joe Terry, the CEO at Culture Partners, emphasizes the importance of company culture in driving employee engagement and customer experience. Joe cites Trader Joe's and USAA as examples of companies that have successfully prioritized culture to create positive employee experiences, resulting in enhanced satisfaction across their customer-base.

The same philosophy goes for nonprofits. To create a great organization, start with positive experiences that build trust and those experiences will spill into the cause-support communities we’re building.

Terry shares his personal mission to unlock human potential and create workplace cultures based on love where employees feel valued, supported, and part of a team.

Key Points:
- Trader Joe's and USAA are examples of companies that prioritize culture and create positive employee experiences.
- Leaders should create an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and part of a team.
- A strong company culture positively impacts the customer experience. Leading with love at work fosters a caring and fulfilling environment.
- Leaders should set high expectations for employees and help them unlock their full potential.

In this episode of the Build a Better Nonprofit Podcast, Jamie Bearse interviews Mary Wheatley, CEO of the National Scleroderma Foundation. Mary shares her background in the rheumatology space, having previously worked with the Rheumatology Research Foundation and the American College of Rheumatology. They discuss the rare autoimmune disease scleroderma and the work of the National Scleroderma Foundation to increase awareness and promote early diagnosis.

Mary emphasizes the importance of building relationships between care teams and patients in the chronic disease space, particularly in rheumatology. She shares her insights on balancing accountability to both the board and staff as a CEO, highlighting the need for a work-life balance.

They also delve into the process of uniting different affiliates and chapters of the foundation into one cohesive national community. Mary discusses the challenges and emotional considerations involved in merging different organizations while maintaining the identity of individual chapters. She advises other organizations going through similar processes to provide space for discussing emotional and identity-related concerns.

The importance of effective communication and being clear about the continuity of local leadership and autonomy in chapters during mergers is also discussed. Mary stresses the significance of transparency and vulnerability in leadership, creating a bridge with the team by openly sharing her own shortcomings.

Mary brings transparency to the National Scleroderma Foundation by regularly sharing information on strategic initiatives and financial health publicly. This transparency helps foster a sense of closeness and shared understanding within the community.

Mary's advice for aspiring nonprofit professionals includes asking for help and advice, relying on a network of experts, and letting go of the expectation of having all the answers.

Challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, such as staff turnover and increased competition for talent, are discussed. Mary shares her experience of strategizing and adapting to overcome challenges, including declines in donations and the impact of the economy on individual giving.

Overall, this episode emphasizes the importance of transparency, vulnerability, and seeking support in nonprofit leadership. It provides insights and advice for aspiring leaders in the sector while shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by nonprofit organizations.

In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of retaining talent and employee engagement in the nonprofit sector. Our guest is Michael Osso, CEO of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, shares his insights and experiences in implementing effective strategies to address these challenges. He discusses the impact of the pandemic, the concept of the "great resignation," and the importance of being intentional about employee care. Michael also highlights various tactics and initiatives his organization has undertaken to boost retention and create a positive work environment.

Episode Highlights:

• The great reshuffle and the quiet quitting phenomenon in the aftermath of the pandemic.

• Retaining talent as a pressing issue among nonprofit CEOs.

• The need for intentional efforts to improve employee experience and morale.

• The realization that previous leadership practices were insufficient for employee retention.

• Creating a comprehensive strategy to engage employees, enhance professional development, and improve retention.

• Specific tactics implemented by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation: transparent career pathing, merit increases, bonus programs, mentoring programs, career development learning systems, additional vacation days, extra holidays, and a no-meetings Friday afternoon policy.

• Conducting an annual anonymous employee engagement survey to gather feedback and address concerns.

• Implementing monthly town hall meetings to provide a platform for open dialogue and questions.

• Michael's personal approach to demonstrating dedication to retention and gratitude.

• Lunchtime chats as an opportunity for the CEO to connect with employees outside of the headquarters.

• The importance of fostering dialogue and learning from employees across the organization.

• Advice for new executive directors or CEOs in leading their management teams: insinuate oneself into conversations outside of the job role, gain exposure to different areas of nonprofit business, and have consistent enterprise-wide conversations with the senior team.

• The value of not feeling obligated to have all the answers as a leader but trusting subject matter experts in the team.

• Employee retention and the troubling trend of declining nonprofit support in the country as key concerns.

Retaining talent and promoting employee engagement are critical challenges faced by nonprofit organizations. Through intentional efforts and comprehensive strategies, leaders can create a positive work environment and foster a sense of loyalty among employees. This episode emphasized the importance of employee care, open dialogue, and leveraging the expertise of subject matter experts in addressing these challenges. By taking these steps, nonprofit leaders can ensure their organizations thrive and make a lasting impact on their mission.

Anne-Marie Grey, former executive director of USA for UNHCR and the Principal Director of Grey O'Keefe Associates, joins Jamie Bearse to talk about transformational fundraising, giving donors a quality experience, and how to make your teams feel safe to innovate.

She's also held senior fundraising and corporate alliance positions at Save the Children, UNICEF, US Fund for UNICEF and Share our Strength. When living in Australia, she led fundraising efforts for the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Australian War Memorial, and the Australian Sports Commission.

Grey is an avid reader of business and leadership books. Her favorites include:
- Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes by William Bridges PhD
- Mindset: New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck
- The Lost Art of Connecting, Susan McPherson
- Dare to Lead, Brene Brown

Jamie welcomes Michael Pearlmutter, executive director of the CPARF (Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation), to discuss the importance of recruiting and retaining staff who are emotionally connected to the mission of the organization, and how to cultivate a workplace that respects their lives outside of work.

Pearlmutter emphasizes that when it comes to hiring staff, it's important to not only consider their qualifications and experience, but also their personal connection to the mission of the nonprofit. He suggests looking for candidates who have a personal story or connection to the cause, as they are more likely to be emotionally invested in the work and more motivated to contribute to an organization's success.

In addition, Pearlmutter and Bearse discuss the importance of creating a workplace culture that respects employees' personal lives and allows for a healthy work-life balance. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for nonprofit organizations looking to build a strong team and create a supportive workplace culture.

When Jason Rosoff was presented with honest feedback from his coworker Dana, it was the spark that ignited his transformation as a leader. Little did he expect that the feedback would reveal an unexpected twist - his team had nicknamed his facial expressions during presentations his "thinking face," and it was causing confusion amongst his colleagues. Through Dana's Radical Candor, Jason was inspired to challenge himself and take control of his growth. What will Jason do next?

Compassion is empathy plus action. You are aware, and you do something as a result of it. - Jason Rosoff

My special guest is Jason Rosoff

As the CEO of Radical Candor Organization, Jason has successfully assisted numerous nonprofits and Fortune 100 companies in creating more open and honest work environments. The organization was founded by author and thought leader Kim Scott and based on the book of the same name.

Jason's expertise has been instrumental in the launch of the Khan Academy, an innovative education tech nonprofit that has impacted the lives of millions of students worldwide. With a passion for helping others, Jason is a valuable resource for nonprofit leaders seeking to improve their organization's communication strategies.

In this episode, you will be able to: 1. Embrace Radical Candor to boost workplace communication and growth. 2. Understand why Radical Candor is especially important for nonprofit leaders. 3. Tackle professional development in the nonprofit space for triumphant results. 4. Grasp the impact of company culture and the CEO's responsibility in molding it. 5. Absorb leadership values, the art of bootstrapping, and savoring the entrepreneurial ride.

This is Jason Rosoff's story:

The moment Jason Rosoff truly understood the power of Radical Candor came when his coworker Dana approached him after a successful board presentation. Despite his contribution to the project, Jason's paralyzing fear of public speaking led him to ask Dana to lead the pitch. As they celebrated the positive outcome, Dana gently pointed out that Jason's facial expressions during the presentation seemed tense and upset, even confusing some of the board members. Though initially embarrassed, Jason realized that he needed to address this issue and sought feedback from others. To his surprise, his team had noticed this issue as well, even dubbing it his "thinking face." The empathy and clear communication Dana displayed in providing this feedback exemplified Radical Candor and inspired Jason to challenge himself and grow as a leader.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Identify someone in your life who you already practice Radical Candor with and tap into that feeling when approaching difficult conversations at work.

• Reflect on past feedback and identify instances where you may have drifted into ruinous empathy, manipulative insensitivity, or obnoxious aggression.

• Practice giving balanced feedback by caring personally and challenging directly without coming across as aggressive or insincere.

• Regularly check your body language and facial expressions to ensure they align with your intended message.

• Recognize when empathy may be paralyzing you from taking action and work on balancing empathy with directness.

• Seek feedback from your team and be open to hearing their perspectives on your communication style.

• Adjust your communication style as needed to promote a more radically candid culture within your organization.

• Encourage your team members to practice Radical Candor with one another to foster open and honest communication.

• Consider reading the book Radical Candor by Kim Scott to gain a deeper understanding of the concept and its applications.

• Explore the resources and coaching services offered by the Radical Candor Organization to help create a more radically candid culture within your nonprofit

Jamie is joined by Kailee Scales of Pencils of Promise to talk the importance of having an abundance mindset, nonprofit board-building, and the important work her and her team are doing to help students and teachers around the globe. 

Jamie Bearse is joined by Turnkey CEO Katrina VanHuss and Vice President of Psychological Strategy Dr. Otis Fulton. They're talking about what nonprofit leaders are thinking about right now, the future of charitable events, and how community-building is the key fundraising - which is outlined in their new book, "Social Fundraising".