Escape the DIY Trap to Unlock Your Nonprofit’s Potential
As a nonprofit leader, you likely have the skills and intelligence to tackle a wide range of tasks. However, there's a common pitfall that far too many of fall into: the Do-It-Yourself Trap.
This trap is the belief that "if I have the skill to do the work, or the intelligence to figure it out, then I must do it myself."
After all, you can wear all the hats and do all the things, right?
While we must manage our organizations with frugality and resourcefulness, this approach often ignores critical considerations like the highest and best use of your time and the hidden costs of delaying tasks.
When you know how to recognize and escape the DIY Trap, you can boost your effectiveness and make a bigger impact.
What an Easy Trap to Fall Into
Growing up, we had a number of years where makings ends meet included hand-me-downs and government cheese. To this day, I still have a huge pile of scratch paper awaiting use because it’s only printed on one side and it would be a waste to throw it away (right?).
Pinching every penny was just a basic survival skill from my childhood. It felt as natural as driving on the right side of the street or wearing warmer clothes in winter. These habits, ingrained from childhood, made the DIY Trap feel quite natural.
The Myth of Self-Reliance
The world expects nonprofit leaders to show self-reliance and the ability to handle any challenge; and we typically expect this of ourselves. But these virtues can become a two-edged sword, leading to burnout and stalled progress.
It turns out that self-reliance should not mean doing everything yourself. In fact, effective leaders know how to delegate, collaborate, and build a strong team around them.
The Cost of Time
One of the most critical aspects of escaping the DIY Trap is understanding the concept of Return on Investment (ROI) for your time.
Consider this: should you spend time on a task that could be delegated to someone else?
For example, does it make sense for the executive director with an accounting background to spend a day assembling well-crafted financial reports for the board? While that might save them the cost of a Fractional CFO doing the work, what if that ED had spent the time fundraising instead? Wouldn’t coffee with four donors, who each give an average of $1,000, have been a better use of that day?
Calculate the cost of your time, and you may be surprised by the resources you're wasting on low-impact tasks. Remember, your time is a precious resource, and you should allocate it strategically to tasks that provide the greatest value to the organization.
Assessing Spare Time
Evaluate your available time realistically. Are you squeezing essential work into a tight schedule, leaving no room for innovation and strategic thinking?
While this strategy may get you good results in the short-term, it can backfire over time. I’ve seen too many organizations stuck using technology, processes, and what used to be “best practices” from a couple of decades ago.
Running a nonprofit this way leads to expensive inefficiencies and will demotivate your more innovative staff (killing their spirits or driving them away).
Are you the leader or the technician?
Having the skill to do something doesn't necessarily mean you should be the one doing it. As a leader, your value is not in the ability to perform tasks, but in guiding and empowering your team (staff, board, and volunteers). Recognize the difference between what you can do and what adds the most value to your organization.
Rolling up the sleeves to do the technical work can feel satisfying and provide an immediate sense of accomplishment. But the more you do it, the more you deprive an employee or volunteer the opportunity to learn, grow, and perform. It also removes you from the role that only you can perform: leading the organization.
The Opportunity Cost of Waiting
Sometimes we trick ourselves into believing that the DIY task only represents a momentary, one-time delay. All too often, though, that one-time delay slowly becomes long-term.
Reality check: how many tasks on your “to do” list have been waiting for a month? 3 months? A year?
Embrace the idea that by delegating and seeking support, you can accelerate progress and seize opportunities as they arise.
Effective Delegation
Delegation is a skill that every nonprofit leader should master. Identify the right team members or volunteers for specific tasks, communicate expectations clearly, and provide the necessary support. Delegating effectively is not about offloading work but about fostering growth and empowering your team.
Building a Support System
You don't need to navigate your leadership journey alone. Establish a network of advisors, volunteers, and mentors who can offer guidance, expertise, and support. Building a support system allows you to tap into a wealth of knowledge and resources that can help you succeed.
Where to start? If you haven’t already, cultivate friendships with leaders at peer organizations by inviting them out for coffee or lunch.
The time I’ve invested in my peer networks has more than paid for itself over the years. They are a great source of knowledge, wisdom, and support.
Outsourcing and Technology
Consider outsourcing non-core tasks and leveraging technology solutions. Many administrative and operational tasks can be streamlined or automated, saving you time and resources for strategic initiatives.
For example: managed IT. Sure, you’re smart enough to figure out 9 out of 10 computer-related challenges that you or your staff run into. You might even enjoy the challenge and change of pace. But once you take into account your time and the time of the staffer whose computer you’re fixing, the opportunity cost frequently outweighs more than you would have paid an outside professional to take care of it.
And, are you really able to stay up to date emerging cyber threats and other changes in the technology? More than likely, the DIY trap could set you up to fall into the even bigger trap of a cyber criminal.
Measuring Success
Measure the success and impact of your new approach to delegation and time management. Success is not just about efficiency; it's about achieving your organization's goals and fulfilling its mission. Done correctly, you should experience:
More time available for top priorities and tasks only you can do
Less feelings of the stress and burnout that come with trying to do all the things
Greater mission impact overall
Conclusion and Call to Action
Breaking free from the DIY Trap is a crucial step for any nonprofit leader who wants to go from good to great. By recognizing the value of your time, embracing effective delegation, and building a support network, you can unlock your organization's true potential. Take action today, and you'll find that your impact can be even more significant when you're not stuck in the DIY Trap.