There comes some extent within the lifetime of a corporation the place it considers increasing its applications and providers.
This strategic transfer can open up new potentialities, construct and strengthen neighborhood bonds, and improve total effectiveness, together with:
Whereas the concept of increasing your group’s applications might be tempting, many organizations enterprise into uncharted territory with out being intentional about WHY and HOW they broaden.
This results in pushback from different organizations, neighborhood members, and even employees.
There’s completely different ranges to pushback in opposition to program growth. Listed here are two methods to take a look at it:
Inside pushback
I’m beginning first with inside pushback as most organizations usually prioritize the wants of their exterior stakeholders.
Why? These folks (from funders and coverage makers to program contributors and neighborhood companions) and their priorities usually overshadow inside pushback.
Program staff perceive your applications nicely, and it’s comprehensible that the largest pushback will probably be from them. Inside pushback can embody:
- Employees aren’t positive tips on how to implement this system on a bigger scale, which might compromise delivering significant outcomes
- This system’s design (participant outreach, actions, outcomes, and many others.) could also be finest fitted to one kind of implementation (in-person versus on-line)
- Useful resource constraints (monetary, employees scarcity, inadequate infrastructure) can jeopardize program implementation and effectiveness
- This system’s design meets the needs of a specific population (e.g., this system caters to city communities however you wish to broaden to rural populations)
- Lack of employees involvement in determination making, can result in a way of disempowerment and decreased staff buy-in
- Unsure funding and sustainability can result in job safety issues and the potential for program cutbacks
- Want for elevated communication and collaboration amongst employees and neighborhood companions, which might exacerbate an already tense working dynamic
- This system’s goal neighborhood is already saturated with applications, which might improve competitors amongst organizations
- Fears that increasing applications might result in unsuccessful outcomes, damaging the repute of the group and affecting employees morale
Exterior pushback
I’m going to deal with neighborhood members, who’re the first beneficiaries community-based organizations. Much like organizational companions, coverage makers, and funders, neighborhood members could have legitimate issues or reservations in regards to the growth of applications and providers.
Exterior pushback is less complicated for organizations to see and sometimes the quickest to react to. We don’t wish to alienate the folks whose participation and championing of our applications are essential. Exterior pushback can embody:
- Previous destructive experiences wherein neighborhood members have seen comparable expansions fail prior to now
- Lack of neighborhood enter can function a disconnect from understanding precise neighborhood wants (possibly the neighborhood wants one thing else, and never this program)
- Organizations could unintentionally overlook or misunderstand the cultural nuances of the neighborhood they serve. If the growth introduces applications which are perceived as culturally insensitive or inappropriate, neighborhood members could resist
- Group members could also be skeptical in regards to the success and impression of expanded applications if there’s no prior present relationship between the neighborhood and the group
- The neighborhood is oversaturated with applications and providers, overwhelming the neighborhood by the inflow of recent initiatives
- Some neighborhood members could choose locally-driven options and initiatives over these launched by a corporation that desires to broaden there. This might undermine community-led efforts and diminish the sense of self-determination throughout the neighborhood.
Key takeaway
The choice to broaden applications and providers is a strategic one. By staying attuned to inside AND exterior stakeholder wants, your group might be extra considerate in if AND the way you broaden.
Increase Your Voice: Identify a technique your group has addressed pushback when increasing a program or service.
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