Without clear organisational direction, an NFP is unable to flourish or succeed in its commitment to others. But more than that, clear organisational direction is also the secret behind employee engagement.

Without some kind of expectation, an individual or volunteer can struggle in their role. Regardless of the level of the position, there must be some job satisfaction involved for everyone, and this comes with clarity.

Clear direction and a sense of real job satisfaction are even more important than pay, believe it or not. The clarity comes from what the volunteer or employee is expected to do in the organisation and how that fits in with the goals of the entire organisational strategy. If this can be achieved, then people will continue to stay in their roles longer. Without it, however, the lack of certainty can have a severe negative impact on the attitude towards the position.

As NFPs often rely on volunteers or lower paying jobs, the focus must be put on the direction, so workers are not left floundering in their position. Employees must understand in detail who they are to officially report to and where to go if they have an issue. Departments can then be more productive and follow their procedures and processes to maximise their efficiency.

With real direction, it is easier for a non-profit to understand when it is ready to grow or increase the size of its workforce. Volunteers and employees won’t be left with an enormous amount of workload wondering how they are going to get through it within the course of a week. While it is common for smaller organisations and charities to forego structure, it is important that it is set in place before the company grows to an unmanageable size.

Haphazard, unprofessional and lackadaisical are not words that should be associated with your NFP. So nip these in the bud as early as you can.

Contrary to popular belief, organisational direction will not hamper your creativity and effectiveness, but allow it to flourish.