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Capability Company

A Message from our President

Dear Colleague,

I don't know about you, but I'm glad the campaigning is over. While learning about the issues was very important to me, I had grown tired of the constant ads, phone calls, mailings, and Facebook posts. In the last few weeks, I thought, "I know all that I want to know. I've already decided how I'll vote." In fact, I voted early - which, by the way, does not stop robocalls. This self-commentary was not to belittle the profound understanding of the importance of having the privilege and civic responsibility to participate in our democracy, but simply to selfishly gripe about the hassle.

But, in the relative silence after the election, the real value of the campaign process came through: to help me (and others) determine which individuals and policies are the best match for our own. In other words, who would represent my ideals and goals - someone I can be proud to say got my vote (whether that person was elected at the polls or not).

Regardless of how you voted, you assessed your own stances and researched which candidates thought similarly. You considered past experiences, current attitudes, and future plans. You asked questions and listened carefully. You discussed it with family, friends, and colleagues. In the end, it came down to which politicians presented and represented the community in which you want to live.

This personality-culture fit is pervasive and powerful. Not only does it affect our political choices, but also determines how comfortable and successful we will be at work on an everyday basis. We have an image of the "perfect" workplace and who we are as workers, but often don't do the research, ask the questions, or listen to feedback (both internal and external) to make an informed decision. This can be a make-it-or-break-it issue - a good fit is empowering, a bad fit can be deflating.

So, here's my campaign (and the focus of our article this month) - take the time to reflect on who you are and what is important to you, and to find out if the organization you work for (or want to work for) can "work" for you.

Sherry Heuser
President, Capability Company

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Current Searches

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Article of the Month

Word count: 462
Approximate Reading Time: 3 Minutes

Finding a Good Match between Personality and Corporate Culture

by Sherry Heuser

I communicate every day with individuals seeking new roles in the nonprofit sector. Each person is different, with varying skills, education, experience and goals. However, one trait remains the same across all of them: they want to work for organizations they can personally support, missions they believe in and environments that energize them. In a nutshell, they want their personality reflected in the corporate culture of the organization, and a corporate culture that embraces their personality.

We all know that a bad fit can ruin a relationship, but a good fit can establish the foundation for years of partnership and growth. How do you know if you are considering an opportunity that would be a good match? Below are some thoughts to ponder.

People

Who will be your coworkers and who supports the organization? Look into who the other staff members are and to whom you will be reporting. While you want a diverse, interesting team of colleagues, and donors who are connected to the organization in various ways, you also want to be part of a group that supports your work style and shares your vision of success. You likely will rely on, lend a hand to, and "live" with this group for more hours than you will sleep every day.

Places

Where is the organization located and where will you be working? You may be the type of person who enjoys a long commute to get ready for your day or prefers overseeing a regional scope of services, in which case an organization in a neighboring town could fit well with you. But, if you want to walk to work or have an immediate impact on your local community, you should look for positions closer to home. The extent of work-related travel, size and setup of the office, and proximity to other responsibilities in your life are all aspects of your work location you should consider.

Things

What activities do the position and organization encompass? Although not all of your daily tasks will be exciting, you should find a mix of familiar and new, comfortable and challenging in your scope of responsibilities. The mission should be one that you care about and are willing to share with friends, family and colleagues. You should be comfortable and genuine when talking about the services provided, policy stances, and values. If you would not willing to donate your time and money to the organization, it probably isn't the best match for you.

Finding a match can be tricky, but the rewards are immense. When we are pleased with the people we work with, the place we work and the things we do, we are able to help our team, office and organization move forward. We are successful and happy in our work life.

Bottom Line: Paying attention to what we know about ourselves and what we can learn about a potential new job and organization can help determine if there is a strong personality-corporate culture match, the key to productivity, longevity and achievement.

Sherry Heuser is president of Capability Company Consulting, a Raleigh, N.C.-based firm supporting nonprofit organizations' searches for key hires.

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Event Calendar

Visit the current calendar of events on our website.

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In This Issue

Current Searches
Article of the Month
The Bottom Line
Event Calendar

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A Client's Perspective

" I truly appreciate all of your help and the very professional manner in which you conducted this search. I will highly recommend you to others! ”

Suzanne Sutter
Board Member
Make-a-Wish Foundation of Eastern NC


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Heard Around Town

"When you're finished changing, you're finished."

~ Ben Franklin
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Let us know about your upcoming professional development events by emailing us at info@capabilitycompany.com. Please give the date(s) and any additional pertinent information.
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8300 Clarks Branch Drive | Raleigh, North Carolina 27613 | 919.791.3700
Visit us online at www.capabilitycompany.com or e-mail us at info@capabilitycompany.com



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