{"id":1835,"date":"2010-01-05T11:57:24","date_gmt":"2010-01-05T10:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/progmanager.wordpress.com\/?p=919"},"modified":"2010-01-05T11:57:24","modified_gmt":"2010-01-05T10:57:24","slug":"value-our-people-more-or-social-enterprise-will-be-lost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/realisedevelopment.net\/index.php\/2010\/01\/05\/value-our-people-more-or-social-enterprise-will-be-lost\/","title":{"rendered":"Value our People More or Social Enterprise will be Lost"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the title of an interesting post by Adrian Ashton over at Social Enterprise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Adrian cites major problems with both pay and prospects with 60% of those working in the sector expecting to leave it within the next 5 years.<\/p>\n

there are various strategies and policies around how social enterprise is going to save the world, but in all the hype and excitement we must be careful to remember that it can only do so if our people feel valued in doing so and we can retain them for the journey.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So social enterprises must join the ‘War for Talent<\/a>‘.<\/p>\n

At the heart of talent acquisition and retention is a single, simple question. \u00a0What is our winning Employee Value Proposition<\/a> (EVP)? \u00a0What value can we offer employees that\u00a0means\u00a0they will join us, stay and develop their impact?<\/p>\n

And this is where the social\u00a0enterprise\u00a0sector has a potential significant advantage over many for profits. \u00a0But an advantage that many social enterprises squander.<\/p>\n

A social\u00a0enterprise\u00a0can offer\u00a0meaning, purpose, authenticity (the chance to do what I am ‘meant’\u00a0to be doing, to express who I really am through my contribution – to do ‘good’ work<\/a>) and impact. \u00a0It is not about pursuing profits but pursuing social justice. \u00a0About building a better world. \u00a0Make sure that you build this into your EVP and there will be no problem\u00a0retaining\u00a0top people – even if you are not paying top dollar.<\/p>\n

But I see many\u00a0social\u00a0enterprises lose sight of their purpose. \u00a0They become more interested in writing finding applications than in the pursuit of social justice. \u00a0They will do whatever the funders ask them to – even if this makes them\u00a0dependent\u00a0and compliant. \u00a0\u00a0Working in the best interests of the funder\u00a0rather\u00a0than in the best interests of those whom they are meant to serve.<\/p>\n

If social enterprise is to have a future then managers and leaders in the sector must\u00a0learn\u00a0how to:<\/p>\n