When coaching nonprofit managers I consistently emphasize the same core management principles. This constant repetition is deliberate.
If you’ve read Applied Wisdom for the Nonprofit Sector and followed these newsletters, you’ve likely noticed the same “Morganisms” appearing regularly. Bad news is good news if you do something about it. Book it and ship it. The importance of respect and trust. I repeat these maxims deliberately because meaningful organizational change never happens through a single announcement or an offsite discussion—it requires consistent action, communicated repeatedly.
Sometimes people roll their eyes at mission statements and strategic messaging. It’s possible to overdo it, but it’s also important to repeat and reinforce fundamental values. A recent article in The Economist titled “The importance of repetition in the workplace” points out that employees are far more likely to criticize leaders for under-communicating than for over-communicating.
The Economist also notes that repetition works in other domains. The article points to a recent study which found that songs with more repetitive lyrics are more likely to make it into the top 40 singles chart.
In the nonprofit world where resources are limited and missions are critical, this principle becomes even more important. Your team needs to hear consistent messages about organizational values, strategic priorities, and your confidence in their abilities to deliver.
Remember, you will never change an organization’s culture just by talking about it once. You must do something, take deliberate action. Make real changes and communicate them—not just once, but repeatedly and consistently.