Do one thing Better – leading through volatile times

When the most radical thing you can do as a charity leader is press pause

In a new ‘Do one thing Better’ series of blogs, Claire Irving, director and co-founder of Better Strategic Consultancy highlights how charity CEOs and voluntary sector leaders might navigate a path through current choppy waters.  

Resilience in the charity sector feels shaky right now. World events and the environment, implications of the changes to NI, years of austerity leading to an ever-greater reliance on the voluntary sector for service provision … it feels tough. And, after spending the past few weeks feeling a bit grotty about it all, I’ve come to the realisation that in this tough space, there is hope. 

Charity leaders – this space gives us all permission, within the extremity of the change and uncertainty we are facing, to be radical in the way we do things. To coin a phrase we’ve used a lot at Better recently, to purposefully innovate so that we can make a deep and rich difference.

It is time to ask ourselves whether our missions are designed and framed around a world that no longer exists.  Are they based on working alongside a cradle to grave NHS and social care? With structures that are based on outdated thinking? Where the cost model is too great, and focus has been lost? Where we’re trying to do everything, trialling new without nailing down what is core?

In this context of volatility, uncertainty and change, leaders can and must act now to evolve missions. From the ground up, charities must be laser-focused on identifying where the greatest impact can be made and evolve to meet it based upon principles of people-first collaboration, partnership and humanity. Our donors and the people we support expect it of us.    

Big words – so what is one thing you can do as a leader tomorrow to make this happen?

Stop.

There is nothing more important right now than taking time out to consider your approach to the next five years. Speak candidly with your Chair and give yourself permission to think outside of the day-to-day pressures. To consider what your next steps may be, where values sit, and what you need next from your team.

And the thing about working in the charity sector, is that we’re here to be lovable, values-led disruptors. We’re able to thumb our noses at the establishment and do things differently in the face of real need and want.  To flag that things can be and must be better, and to go on and make it happen.

You need to do this.  Your people need you to do this. Your services need you to do this.  Your donors need you to do this.  Society needs you to do this. 

As well as issuing a challenge, I’m extending a hand of support. I’m offering three, 30 minute calls to charity CEOs who want space to talk about how they might do this. No pitch, nothing else expected and completely free of charge.  Contact me at info@betterconsult.co.uk and let's get started.