Too Focused?

Sometimes it's easy to get tunnel vision - so caught up in our own passions, roles or responsibilities that we forget about the bigger picture.

On the front-lines of most non-profits, this happens every day.  it's so easy to forget that there is any greater need or priority, or indeed any part of the world, outside of the scared child, troubled family or hurting individual that we are trying to help.  And this is important - that one person, or group of people, need others to care about them - and this is where others, within or outside of an organization, can step up and offer support.  Single-minded focus can also be challenging, because of course there are other matters of importance - other people and families who need support, the overall structure and funders for the organization, etc.

When tunnel vision swings the other way, though, is when it can become really dangerous.  When a non-profit focused on helping people, for instance, begins to think that accounting or marketing is the main and most important piece of work it does, it is seriously and almost disastrously miss the point.  Or, when an arts organization begin to see it's first priority being to employ people - thus, slowly prioritizing the needs of employees over the needs of patrons, the community or artists.

Perhaps the most dangerous of all is a creeping belief for any organizations that donors or funders are the most important people or groups.  After all, it's easy to make a small adjustment here or there, if it will gain more money and support to serve your cause.  Over time, though, these changes might begin to pile up and before you know it, the organization is nearly unrecognizable (in other words, serious mission-drift occurs).

The reality is that there remains a balance for those organizations willing to make tough decisions, to say "yes" sometimes and "no" at others.  A balance between focus on the primary mission of the organization, and also being mindful of the fact that people are employed and the fundraising and donors are essential.

In this balanced place, there are funders who are investing in the mission, and who know and value the difference they make.  There are employees and support teams committed to the cause, and with a clear focus on why they do what they do.  And, there are people focused on being hands-on and at the front-lines of the organization, but who are also aware of the importance of other decisions being made, even ones they don't necessarily understand or see the need for.

Perfection is, of course, an impossible standard.  But if we choose to move in that direction every day, so much the better.