Nonprofit Staffing: Maintaining Corporate Identity When Growth Occurs

Instituting company bonding activities is important, too, in building staff cohesion and loyalty. Key examples include offering monthly team-building social activities on company time, sponsoring charitable activities such as food and clothing drives, promoting a staff book club, and holding an annual staff retreat and/or holiday party. Of course, elements of the organization's benefits package can play an important role as well.

Expect that 50 percent of your lower-level hires will leave the organization no matter what. These staff members are often experimenting with career choices or just looking for new experiences. Don't feel that some flaw within your organization is precipitating their exit. However, monitor the situation through exit interviews to gain insights about each employee's work experience while in your employ. If there is a recurring theme, it likely warrants your attention.

A Piece of Advice

Here is my No. 1 piece of advice when growing your organization and expanding into new fields: Hire people who know more than you do, and learn from them. Impart to them all you know based on your past experience, and listen and absorb the knowledge they possess in their chosen field. Together, everyone will learn and pioneer many new and successful strategies that will contribute to the success—and ongoing growth—of your organization.

Kim Cubine is president of Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey. Reach her at kcubine@ccah.com.