Employee Engagement

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Hanson on February 22, 2010 at 4:24pm

I think part of the problem is can be solved in making good hiring choices. If you have someone who isn't enthusiastic and doesn't have a positive attitude, morale will decrease regardless if it's in a nonprofit or for profit business. Skills can be learned or expanded, attitude is much harder to address. I also think that both enthusiasm and negativity can be contagious and so each person really does make a difference in what they contribute to your organizational culture.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Hepler on February 22, 2010 at 6:48pm

I find that everyone brings something to the table. Not knowing all the details of everyone's life, sometimes overwhelming circumstances can affect an employee's attitude in the work place. These are tough times. Even public employees are faced with major cuts in pay and benefits. Add to that a spouse with an illness or other family problems and it is hard to stay focused and upbeat all the time. I find it important to invest some time with co-workers who appear to be stressed. It is amazing what some families are going through and the change in attitude when someone shows that they are cognisant of their situation.

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Permalink Reply by Will Stewart on February 24, 2010 at 4:16pm

“It is a common and true complaint of employers that their men take no interest in their work. But why should they? What motive have they for putting love and care into their work? It is not theirs." - Walter Rauschenbusch in Christianity and the Social Crisis

In this passage Rauschenbusch is speaking of the worker who is hired to help his employer do the latter's work, but I think his point is equally valid for those of us in the nonprofit sector. As a NeighborWorks employee myself, I know that what I do is meaningful, but I can say that I am most engaged when I have a sense of ownership with regard to a particular project.

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