Sometimes, when work gets busy and the projects begin piling up, we can begin to treat each other like machines. Our teammates become producers instead of people.
This is your friendly reminder to remember that you’re dealing with real, live, living, breathing humans. Humans who may be homeschooling kindergarteners (bless you) or fighting mental health battles or having a really crappy week.
At the end of the day, your team’s human-ness is what matters most.
So today, ask someone how they are doing. Take five minutes to get to know what people are into, what they’re dreaming about, what they’re struggling with. Remember that real life matters more than any project — and in nonprofit world, remember that the lives right here need just as much care and concern as the lives you are serving there.
This whole thing (pandemic, fires, politics, life…) is hard. And one of the only silver linings is that we aren’t walking through any of it alone.
So slow down. Ask questions. Pay attention. Be a friend to your team. Remember that you’re a human, too. Take a breather.
We promise the work will still be there when you get back.
