Let’s about talk the importance of organizational health. Have you ever heard of Dragon Boat Racing? Its inception dates back to 5th century China and is similar to rowing or sculling. Teams of up to 16 individuals align in pairs in grand, canoe-like vessels adorned with intricate dragon heads and paddle in unison. However, the sport has an intriguing variant: Dragon Boat Tug of War. Here, the teams are poised to race, not alongside each other, but in the opposite direction while seated in the same boat. It’s an energetic, noisy, and splash-filled event with remarkably little movement. Do you ever find yourself and your organization in a similar position? You’re all in the same boat but not going in the same direction. Everyone is exerting energy and passion, but, at best, you’re not getting anywhere, and, at worst, you’re working against one another. If you feel like you’re in a Dragon Boat Tug-of-War, it might be time to remember the importance of organizational health and assess your organization and its culture.
If you poll your staff or coworkers, what percentage would feel connected to your organization’s culture? A Gallup poll from 2018 showed that only 20 percent of employees in the U.S. feel connected to their company culture.
Twenty. Percent.
One could argue that this is about large companies and not nonprofits or churches that are mission-driven; however, even if that percentage is twice as high, it is still below half of your organization’s staff.
We’re telling you this because the culture of your organization impacts the work that you do. If only 20 percent of your employees feel connected to your mission and vision, that does not underscore the importance of organizational health.
Sorry, that was cheesy, even for us.
Digging into the importance of organizational health and your culture is hard work. It requires a lot of reflection, honesty, hard conversations, and willingness to change. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s better when everyone is in the same boat going the same direction.
You’re not alone. We love working with nonprofits and churches of all shapes and sizes and believe that branding, creativity, and organizational health can all work together to strengthen your work. Let’s see what we can do together.
In the meantime, one of our favorite things we do as a team is creating resources for church and nonprofit leaders so you all can fully thrive in your work. Download our free resource to assess your organizational culture and learn how you can continue to make strides toward health and flourishing.
