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| Path: Main Street : Resources & Library : Research Articles : Feature Article |
Lessons learned in a nonprofit world: Learning through the experiences of others (Part II)
By Teresa Ierullo
April 6, 2009
Think about this for a moment: "If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done."
With the current economic state of affairs and general malaise of the world, the need to do things differently has become very important. But how do we help our clients (and ourselves) make the changes needed to be successful? In this issue of Lessons Learned we explore personal change with Elizabeth Lengyel, a career coach and advisor from PeopleCoach Inc. to discover her lessons learned. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
CharityVillage: Why is change so difficult?
Elizabeth Lengyel: A lot of people do make an annual list of resolutions, and even with the best intentions, I think many people struggle with making them stick because they fail to include those three components that need to align with the change they set out to make:
- Vision - How is the goal linked to your big picture? What’s the payback, benefit or reward for achieving it?
- Passion - How does the resolution align with the fire in your belly? How is it linked with what you really desire and thirst for?
- Mission - What’s your strategy? How exactly are you going to make it happen? And by when? Remember, whether calling it a resolution, goal or intention, it needs a timeline.
CV: What are the most common barriers to achieving personal change?
EL: In addition to making a personal goal stick to vision, passion and mission, here are three common barriers to watch out for:
- Support - Making a lasting change requires time, energy and fostering a commitment to stay on course. Developing the right support structures and environments are critical to realizing personal change and gains. I like the saying, "You alone can do it, but you can’t do it alone." Solicit help. Make changes in your environment. Change doesn’t happen in isolation.
- Focus - Most people today are already juggling a full plate. It’s easy to get sidetracked and lose focus. Watch your time; how you spend it, use it and sometimes lose it, will ultimately distinguish your ability to create change - or get stuck and never follow through with those best intentions.
- Motivation - Know what will keep you motivated to stay on course. Make sure you know how the personal change is going to improve your life. And make sure you’re doing this for you, not to appease someone else. Personal change is just that - it’s personal.
CV: What are some of the best strategies you have seen others use to overcome the stress of change?
EL: It really depends on the change that someone is faced with in their life. For example, a move, a job search, an illness, a relationship...there are all kinds of stressors that come with unique circumstances of change. Generally speaking, here are three strategies I have seen others use to lick various stressors created by change:
- Chunking it down - Break the big change into manageable bite size chunks. Think of one step, versus one enormous leap.
- Solicit help - Find an accountability partner, a coach, a colleague. Find someone you can trust and who wants to support you in the change. Rarely is a major change achieved without the right support in place.
- Manage Emotional Transitions - Change is charged with emotions. Ask yourself what emotional baggage - feelings and behaviours - you need to let go of to make room for the change. List what you need to let go of so you can wipe the slate clean and make room for what you want and move forward. At the same time, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Know what emotions are working for you and how to leverage in making gains with the new change.
CV: Often our role in the nonprofit industry requires us to help our clients change. What are some of the best strategies to help them do this, when we have such little time with them?
EL: I think the key to guiding change for our clients is to tap into what they really want for themselves; tap into their desire. Without desire, it’s questionable whether a person can make - and sustain - change (be it career and/or lifestyle oriented). I like to say that I’m in the "soliciting greatness" business. Helping a client increase their self awareness will start guiding the shift. And once inspired, the client will start leading their personal change.
CV: What are some suggestions to deal with the "but" people; the ones who hear a suggestion and reply with a "yeah, but…"?
EL: It’s not unusual, even when someone knows what change they need or want to make, to start letting fear or long-time belief systems pop up. Listen to what they are saying and implying. Give people white space to discuss their fears and insecurities. Follow through by coaching them on ways to turn their problems into potential. Another technique that I find benefits clients is to question their thoughts respectfully and curiously. Clarify and question the truth of their personal "yeah, but..." Is it true? Has it always been true? How do they know it to be true? Once they find it is not absolute, they are better positioned to start looking at new perspectives.
CV: Our job is to help others, yet so many of us are unhappy in our own jobs or lives. How can we give ourselves the same kind of assistance we give to our clients?
EL: By following our own advice! It’s critical that we shine a mirror on our own career and lives, and walk the talk. Just like going to a doctor for an annual health checkup, I strongly recommend every careerist also do an annual career check up. We need to stay in integrity. Also remember that we too need to leave our comfort zone sometimes; i.e. we need to become uncomfortable to become comfortable again.
Elizabeth M. Lengyel, President of PeopleCoach, Inc., delivers career breakthroughs. A trusted career coach and advisor, Elizabeth is passionate about helping ambitious professionals get juiced about their careers. The result? The right job in the career you love. Visit www.PeopleCoach.com to receive Career Boost, a free 7-part audio program, and to hear her invigorating weekly radio show: Career Juice! Refresh and revitalize your work.
Teresa Ierullo helps nonprofit organizations create and implement successful community-based projects and programs. She is an expert in finding the answers and the best direction for your not-for-profit project needs. For more information, visit: www.justthefacts.ca.
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