Nonprofit organizations are just as likely to face change and the periods of transition that take place in the corporate world and in government agencies. Layoffs are sometimes necessary to keep organizations afloat. Interns graduate and temporary employees move on. New people are hired with new perspectives. Sometimes it is not just the faces that change around us, but also the good work that we do. Perhaps a long-standing program has to be cut because its grant funding has run out. The ways that we deal with organizational change are many, some help ease us through transition, while others keep us mired in it, frustrated and confused.

If your organization is facing change, here are three important reminders: involve as many people as reasonably possible in decision-making; be communicative about what is happening and what is about to happen for the organization; and recognize that everyone is going through transition, which can be hard. In periods of transition, strategic planning can be very helpful to refocus everyone’s energies and attention to the important work of the organization. At SparrowHawk, we have helped guide the process of change from small grassroots organizations on up to multi-million dollar agencies, and we can help you too.