Having the Right Tools for The Job- Investment Strategies for Organizations with a Mission
I recently restored an old building built in the 1950’s. It was truly an enjoyable undertaking, demolishing old walls, custom building old door jambs, and restoring 70-year-old floors. It’s fair to say that having the right tools for the task at hand made this overwhelming project not only doable but enjoyable. Through the years as a weekend warrior, I have acquired your basic set of tools beyond a drill and hammer. I’m talking nail guns, Kreg tools, and an assortment of different saws. But for certain projects, I needed specialty tools that were not in my arsenal, so I had to decide do I buy, rent, or borrow the tool needed to finish the job with excellence.
Buy, Rent, or Borrow?
Running a business is no different. In order to successfully complete the job at hand, you need the right tools for the job. Nonprofits are terribly notorious for using a wrench to do the job of a hammer. So, the first task at hand for nonprofit leaders is to determine which tool is needed to accomplish the task. The second task which is more difficult, is to determine whether to buy, rent, or borrow. When I was restoring the building, for certain projects the basic set of tools just didn’t cut it, so I had to determine whether to buy, rent, or borrow the needed tool? I could have tried to do the job with my basic tools, but it would have looked terrible and it would have been a horrible experience. Can you imagine sanding 2000 square feet of flooring with a 3.5-inch orbital sander? Does it make sense to purchase a 16 in floor machine for only 1 full day of work? The answer for me to both of these questions was no. Renting was my best option. In the nonprofit world, the problems are similar, you are doing a year-end Annual Report, going out to all your donors and it must look top-notch. Do you buy, rent, or borrow to execute the task? In this example buying would be hiring someone on your payroll to do the task, borrowing would be seeking pro bono help, and renting would be outsourcing the responsibility to an outside agency. If you're a big nonprofit and there is a graphic designer on payroll then you can possibly do the bulk of the work in-house, but in this example, you don’t have the budget to hire a graphic designer so buying is out of the question. Borrowing is an option, but the time it will take to find a graphic designer that is willing to donate their services combined with the “I’m not getting paid for this, take what you get results” means that renting/outsourcing is the best option.
Don't Press the Easy Button
Let me be clear you cannot outsource the responsibility of achieving your mission and leading your organization to an outside agency. Those actions and activities are only effective when executed by engaged and committed employees or volunteers that are doing the work of the organization. Too often important decisions are made by the people who aren’t doing the work of the organization which leads to bad capital investments, poor leadership, and ineffective programs. In your organization make sure you have the right tool for the task at hand and you do not out-source the responsibilities of executing your mission and leadership to an outside agency or individuals who are not doing the work of the organization. Pressing the easy button too often causes organizations to fail.
About the Author
Diondre Jackson is founder and chief servant officer of Penultimate Development a 10-month leadership residency program targeting disadvantaged young men created to help them become successful in life by focusing on their spiritual, personal, and professional development. He is also owner and operator of Penult Place, a Co-Working Space in Jefferson City TN and leads The Penultimate Group, created to help organizations and individuals “Reach New Heights”.