By Scot Kersgaard, JVA Consulting

Culture is everything, or maybe not. Whatever your view of organizational culture and its importance, one thing is sure: Some organizations are inclusive and cultivate growth, risk-taking and—dare we say it?—fun. Others, not so much.

Creating a culture where good work gets done, time flies, people look forward to Monday morning and the budget is balanced is among any organization’s challenges.

Nonprofits have some advantages—mission for instance—and some disadvantages—financial stability, perhaps. At the end of the day, though, culture is often as simple as how people relate to each one another in the workplace.

At JVA’s recent Executive Director Academy, JVA invited a handful of local EDs to come in and talk to the class. Culture came up.

Revision International’s Executive Director Eric Kornacki said he has really had to learn to open up to his staff and discuss the organization’s challenges with them. When he faces difficult issues, he said his inclination is to close his door and not talk to anyone, which just makes people nervous. “It’s important to be authentic to the situation,” he said.

One class member, the ED of a foundation, said she is out of the office a lot in meetings and raising money, making it hard for her to connect with staff.

Jim Garcia, Executive Director of Clínica Tepeyac, said, even though most days find him having lunch with donors and community leaders, he tries to bring his lunch to the office and eat in the break room with staff at least once a week. “You have to be very intentional about creating time for staff,” he said.

“I need their input,” Garcia said. “It’s important to me to have complete transparency with the staff.”

Kornacki advised the class to get out of the office with staff, go out for a beer once in awhile.

Norma Portnor, Executive Director of Kids First Health Care, suggested potluck lunches in the office.

Barbara Raynor, Executive Director of Boomers Leading Change in Health, suggested having lunch with the staff once a week and celebrating birthdays in the office. She also said it is good for staff members to be closer to each other than to the boss. “It’s kind of hard, but you (executive directors) need to maintain that separation because you are the boss,” she said.

She said, though, that she keeps a bowl of candy on her desk to encourage staff members to come in. “It humanizes things,” she said.

Portnoy said the boss has to be a calming influence. “If you are not calm, if you are crazy, it rubs off,” she said.

“Stay calm,” agreed Raynor, adding, “You have to remember why you are doing what you are doing, what brought you to this place. It’s easy to forget, but you need to stay passionate.”

She described the work done by nonprofits as noble and ambitious, but that in order to stay charged up to do the work, people need to maintain a sense of humor and have fun. “Otherwise, what’s the point?” she asked.