• Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Join the Team
  • Contact

Powering Nonprofits to Fuel Positive Change

773.804.8589
info@bigbuzzideagroup.com
Big Buzz Idea GroupBig Buzz Idea Group
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Join the Team
  • Contact

Never Overlook the Value of Gratitude

Home » Never Overlook the Value of Gratitude
Never Overlook the Value of Gratitude

Never Overlook the Value of Gratitude

Posted by Devin Ball

“The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.” —Charles Schwab

By: Melissa Lagowski
CEO, Founder and Queen Bee, Big Buzz Idea Group

Early in my career, when I was an Executive Director at a small Chamber of Commerce in Chicago, I had a couple of board members who would try to dangle financial incentives in front of me as a means of encouragement. They kept reminding me of what my financial reward would be if we secured more sponsors for our largest event. It was referenced in every email and in every conversation for months, and it left me feeling absolutely un-incentivized – it actually started to have a very negative affect. Before I realized it, I was almost paralyzed when it came to making the outreach needed to grow sponsorship for the event.

I was so blessed that another board member recognized what was happening, and he taught us all a valuable lesson. Rich explained to me and the other board members that I don’t respond well to that type of incentive, but that I respond best to appreciation. I was amazed that he “got it!” This was something that I hadn’t even previously realized, but it was true – incredibly, deeply true.

See, I am self-motivated and I have always chosen work that is meaningful to me. (I bet you have, too.) And because I select work that speaks to my heart, what I really want more than anything else is to do a great job and receive praise. “Thank you” is one of the best incentives that I could ever receive.

Genuine praise is a response that people crave – they want to know they’re doing a good job, that their work matters, that somebody notices. That recognition is simple but powerful and releases new energy in the recipient, boosts their confidence and motivates them to do even more because of a subconscious desire to validate that praise.

Thank YOU

In the nonprofit arena, you are committed to a specific cause and that is why you have selected to work in the position that you have. You, too, are self-motivated by the good that you are doing – and for that commitment and dedication, we truly “THANK YOU!” We are grateful for what you give on a daily basis that contributes to making this world a better place. You may not hear it enough, but you deserve recognition because you keep giving your very best every day to make a difference.

Thank Others 

As gratitude is the very best gift we can receive, it is also the very best gift that we can give. If you haven’t taken the time to share your gratitude with others lately, November is a wonderful time to do so. While you may or may not receive a lot of appreciation, you can help be the leader that you are by showing others at your organization how it is done.

Thank your staff for their contributions. Gratitude and teamwork help reduce turnover, so letting staff know that you value them can be very meaningful in the long run.

Thank your board of directors for their service. These are the people who voluntarily give of their time, talent and resources to support your organization for their entire term of service. Remembering that all of us want to feel like our work matters, let them know how their contributions are making an impact for your organization.

Thank your donors and sponsors. Too often, we approach our sponsors with our hands out, sometimes repeatedly asking for financial contributions over the course of the year. (Savvy organizations strategically plan their asks and generally conduct a limited number of solicitations each year.) But how often do you make the time to say thank you and show the impact of these donations and contributions? Individual donors and corporate sponsors want to know that their contributions have made a difference. There are plenty of charitable organizations competing to find new financial resources, so it would be wise to remind donors how valuable they are to the organization.

Thank your volunteers. We live in an era where most people suffer from “time-poverty,” trying to do more than ever in each 24-hour allotment, and thus people want to feel that they are investing their time well. Volunteers desire to make meaningful contributions with their time, so a reminder at this time of year about why their time mattered can go a long way in retaining your volunteer pool.

Thank the people that you serve. These people are the core of why your organization exists. It is not uncommon for nonprofit staff and board members to overlook the people at the heart of a nonprofit organization. They are the people that you exist for, so reminding them how important they are can be motivating and rewarding for everyone involved.

The Result

Each of you are in your role because you are a leader. Leaders are constantly working to raise the power of the work we do, and there is no greater gift than gratitude to help impact the world in a positive way. So whether you regularly receive appreciation or not, you can teach others the value of gratitude by sharing it with every level of your organization.

Tags: AppreciationAssociation ManagementBig Buzz Idea GroupChamber of CommerceEncouragementExecutive DirectorGratitudeLeaderNonprofitNonprofit Board of DirectorsNonprofit LeaderNonprofit ManagementShowing GratitudeThank You
Share
0

You also might be interested in

11 Tips to Make Your Newsletter More Readable

11 Tips to Make Your Newsletter More Readable

May 12, 2020

One way to engage your organization’s current or prospective customers, members or donors, is through a newsletter. It doesn’t have to be big and splashy, but it should look professional and be easy to read. Here are some tips to help make your newsletter more readable.

How to Keep Your Visuals On-Brand
Two creative female designers choosing colors working with colour palette in the office.

How to Keep Your Visuals On-Brand

Jun 9, 2020

By: Lidia Varesco Racoma Owner of Lidia Varesco Design Are your organization’s visuals on-brand or have they slowly started to derail? Between working with multiple team members and outside vendors—plus the popularity of image creation apps like Canva and Adobe Spark—brand visuals can start to become diluted over time. But fear not, you can maintain successful brand consistency by doing some simple planning and preparation.

Does Your Mission Have a Compelling Voice?

Does Your Mission Have a Compelling Voice?

Jan 10, 2017

By Guest Blogger: Pon Angara Principal, Barkada Creative “I was[...]

Check Out These Recent Posts

  • How to Hire a Consultant
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II
  • Silver Linings Discovered Amidst a Pandemic
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I
  • Fostering Board Engagement in Virtual Times
  • Self-Care: A Necessity for Successful Leadership
  • 5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads

Sign up for Insights newsletter

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Big Buzz Idea Group, 4055 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, IL, 60646, https://bigbuzzideagroup.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Tag Cloud

501c3 Appreciation Association Management Big Buzz Idea Group Board Members Board of Directors Communication Communications Core Values Culture Development Digital Marketing Donations Donors Event Planner Event Planning Events Executive Director Funding Fundraising Goal-Setting Gratitude Leadership Marketing mission Networking Nonprofit Nonprofit Board Members Nonprofit Fundraising Nonprofit Leadership Nonprofit Management Nonprofit Organization NPO Organization Organization's Culture Organizational Growth Outsourcing Productivity Social Media Sponsors Sponsorship Staff Strategic Planning Virtual Volunteers

Insights Blog Archive

  • Nonprofit Form 990: Friend or Foe?
  • The Birth of a New Vision
  • Why Nonprofits Need to Evaluate Their Budgets Every Year
  • Securing Help from Your Board: Are You Ready?
  • Spend Less. Do More. Your Guide to Effective Outsourcing
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: Growing Nonprofit Revenues
  • To Be Successful, Nonprofits and Associations Must Be Forward-Thinking
  • Time to Assess Your Year-End Campaigns
  • Becoming a Virtual Event Planner in an Instant
  • Conference Call Hero – 6 Tips to Master the Art of Video and Audio Conferencing
  • Does Your Mission Have a Compelling Voice?
  • Cyber Security: How To Protect Yourself In Today’s “Connected” World
  • DIY Event Photos
  • 10 Tips to Cultivate Sponsor Relationships
  • Why Your Nonprofit Needs Brand Guidelines
  • New Year’s Resolutions for Board Members
  • Nonprofit Event Venues 101
  • Real Progress Requires Intention: What Do You Want to Achieve in 2020 for Your Nonprofit?
  • Please Send a Hi-res Copy of Your Logo
  • Celebrate You and Avoid Nonprofit Burnout
  • Defining Your Value: Reclaiming Relevance to the Community You Serve
  • Why You Need to Establish Gratitude as a Pillar at Your Nonprofit
  • 5 Reasons to Outsource Instead of Rely on Volunteers
  • Innovative Approach to Volunteer Recruitment
  • Is Your Marketing Missing the Mark?
  • Virtual Fundraising: 18 Ideas for Nonprofit Revenue
  • Our Top Five Free Online Tools for Nonprofit Management Teams
  • Silver Linings Discovered Amidst a Pandemic
  • 2020: A Lesson in Gratitude
  • Four Tactics to Resolve Nonprofit Staffing Shortages
  • Board or Bored Leadership – Enter the Magnificent Seven
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part II
  • Never Overlook the Value of Gratitude
  • 4 Productivity Tips to Elevate Your Nonprofit
  • Fresh Funding Ideas Are Blooming
  • Communication Tips to Advance Your Organization
  • How to Rewire Your Brain with Positive Thinking
  • The Benefits of Outsourcing
  • Why Is My Organization Not Growing?
  • Big Buzz Has COVID-19 Resources For You!
  • 5 Ways to Generate Sponsor Leads
  • 3 Questions to Ask If You Hope to Grow Your Membership
  • How to Manage Your Organization During an Election Year Without Violating Your Nonprofit Status
  • Engage Your Board – Start with Recruiting and End with A High-Performance Culture
  • A Job Gone Wrong
  • The Need to Go Beyond Surveys
  • Tips for Virtual Event Success
  • Four Pillars to Attracting and Retaining Ideal Employees
  • Budgeting for Your Nonprofit in Uncertain Times
  • If You’re Feeling Hopeless of Late, Remember That Your Work Matters and You Do, Too
  • Organizational Operations Versus Organizational Strategy
  • SPONSORSHIP 101: To Package or Not to Package
  • 5 Secrets to Streamlining Your Administrative Tasks
  • Fundraising: Creating a Straighter Path to Revenue Growth
  • Tips For Meaningful #GivingTuesday Follow-Up
  • Organic Methods to Cultivate Sponsorship Leads
  • Meet Big Buzz, the Creators of Ribfest Chicago
  • Take Time to Evaluate Your Events
  • Lessons Learned in Nonprofit Management
  • Financial Planning for Uncertain Times
  • Transparency and Nonprofit Organizations
  • Cancelling or Postponing Your Events in Light of COVID-19
  • 4 Ways Outsourcing Your Development Work Can Provide Value
  • Why Identifying and Communicating Your Core Values Is Important
  • The Compelling Case to Renew
  • Interim Directors Provide Strength in Times of Transition
  • How to Hire a Consultant
  • Holding On When You Feel Like Throwing In the Towel
  • Goal-Setting For Successful Events
  • 50 Content Promotion Tactics: How to Drive Traffic to Your Next Article
  • 6 Tips for Recruiting Ideal Board Members
  • Optimize Your Contact List for Nonprofit Growth
  • What’s Your Nonprofit’s Story
  • Life After COVID-19: Next Steps for Your Nonprofit
  • Four Step Process to Building Better Buy-In
  • How to Keep Your Visuals On-Brand
  • The Hidden Costs Behind Your Fundraiser
  • How To Secure More Donor Dollars
  • Make Your Nonprofit Stand Out: Creating Impressions for Impact
  • Self-Care: A Necessity for Successful Leadership
  • How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Meet Goals
  • Networking for Personal and Professional Growth
  • 3 Tips For Maintaining Your NPO’s Digital Assets
  • Big Buzz Idea Group Launches Additional Services
  • The Board’s Hot (Summer) Topics
  • Should You Ever Cover Board Member Expenses?
  • Fostering Board Engagement in Virtual Times
  • 9 Lessons Learned from Our First Virtual Conference
  • How to Secure Mega Sponsorships For Your Fundraising Event!
  • Seven Tips to a More Productive Year for Your Organization
  • Talk to Me! Prioritizing Internal Communications During Times of Transition
  • The Taxman Cometh (Yes, Even For Your Exempt Organization)
  • Boost Your Daily Productivity
  • Re-Imagine the Possibilities to Better Serve Your Mission
  • Making a Case for Strategic Planning
  • Promotion Ideas to Benefit Your Nonprofit – Part I
  • 11 Tips to Make Your Newsletter More Readable
  • Team Culture Exists Beyond the Office Walls
  • 3 Reasons Why Your Organization Should Use Canva

Contact Us

Want more info? Have a question? Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message
Spark the growth and power of your organization. Schedule your FREE consultation today. Power up!

CONTACT INFO

  • Big Buzz Idea Group
  • 4055 W. Peterson Ave., #105 Chicago, IL 60646
  • 773.804.8589
  • 773.804.8986
  • info@bigbuzzideagroup.com

Connect with us

Twitter

  • RT  @SMPS_CEO : Associations are financially devastated but remain locked out of essential relief. Why?!  @senatemajldr ,  @SenSchumer ,  @Speaker …
  • 4 months ago
  • When your members appreciate their #membership and feel valued, they’ll talk about it.  http://t.co/IoOAeOTCq1 
  • 4 months ago

Follow @BigBuzzIG

© 2021 — Big Buzz Idea Group

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Join the Team
  • Contact
Prev Next