Every organization faces challenges and obstacles. Issues in organizations do not necessarily indicate that a nonprofit is weak. However, an organizations ability to create a process to solve the issues can be an indicator of the success of a nonprofit. Fortunately, there is a great deal of research on how to deal with issues in organizations. Gene Wickman of Traction offers a simple three step system for resolving issues in any organization: Identify, Discuss, Apply. In this article, we will identify the issues nonprofits face and discuss how to apply the Traction three step process for solving issues in a nonprofit organization.

What issues would arise in a nonprofit? Problems in an nonprofit organization are usually the result of insufficient planning, lack of teamwork, lack of follow up with constituents, funding issues, poor data or lack of vision. It is important to be clear on what are the biggest problems with the organization, to be able to talk with the people in the groups that are involved in the problem and decide what options are most suitable, to manage resources appropriately and to report on the results.

Organizations that prioritize a culture in which any person at all levels of the nonprofit should be able to voice their opinion (within the context of a proper system) will lead to streamlining the effectiveness of that organization. In nonprofit organizations, this also includes volunteers. Because volunteers are most often at the operational level of a nonprofit, the bottleneck of issues stops with them. Understanding and fixing the issues in your organization starts with clear and documented processes. If a nonprofit has unclear processes, they will not be likely to solve their issues. This leads us into the three step process for solving nonprofit issues:

1. Identify: The first step of solving any any issues is to identify it. Does your organization have processes in place to identify the issues that arise on a departmental or organizational level? It is also important to note that the reality of a problem is often hidden within a couple of layers of information. This is why having good data is so  important. Once identified, an organization must take the appropriate steps to implement a solution.
2. Discuss: While it may feel natural to combine the identify and discuss steps of issue management, they must be segmented for this reason: transitioning from identifying the problem to discussing solutions. Once a problem has been identified, meetings that are meant to discuss that issue must be centered on solutions not lingering on the problem. Fixation on the issue, rather than problem-solving can greatly hinder organizational success. Issues and Discussion steps, as humans like to talk a lot. We will not do all that we need to do. But IDS encouraged me to not do that. Why? If we try to talk about the real issue, then we must not go on a tangent. Meetings could go for months or years if everyone keeps going on tangents.
3. Apply: After a solution has been identified through discussion, it is now time to apply that solution. In the application process, prioritize data points that are key markers to solving a particular issue. Give specific tasks and data points to individuals in your organization to create accountability and evaluate it’s effectiveness. Accountability in the application stage is key. If an organization lacks accountability, it lacks the ability to solve problems.

The implementation of this simple process will help any nonprofit organization achieve greater success as they overcome the challenges they face.

If issues persist and your organization needs ways to track data to identify issues or coaching on how to resolve these issues, MyCommunity is the best solution for your nonprofit. MyCommunity exists to build relationships and tools that equip organizations so that they can maximize their impact. Our suite of tools is designed to help organizations of all sizes focus on their mission without worrying about the logistics. We understand the importance of building strong relationships, so we provide the necessary tools to maximize impact and make a difference like our easy-to-use platforms MyDonors and MyVolunteers. Likewise, MyNonprofitCoach equips nonprofits with the training they need to be successful. Schedule a demo for any of our solutions here.

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Sources: https://www.plangoals.com/nonprofit-traction/ and https://rayhightower.com/blog/2022/02/10/issues-plus-eos/