Fluent Essays

Attached instructions In your responses to at least two of your classmates, compare and contrast your respective positions on Piana’s argument concerning the recapitulation of society’s problems within human services organizations and offer constructive criticism of the critical analysis offered by your peers. Additionally, identify any insights you have gained as a result of reading the responses of others. THERESA’S POST: I work for a non-profit organization.  The owner designed the program around her motto, we will love you until you learn to love yourself.  The staff that is hired come with a background of individuals that has a belief in a higher power.  It is a Christian-based organization that uses biblical principles around the educational knowledge of substance abuse treatment.  According to Piana, 2010 nonprofits tend to recreate within their own organizational cultures the problems they are trying to solve in society. As a leader, one has to be a part of the community to meet the needs of the people.  I live among individuals in need of substance abuse and mental illness.  The two go hand in hand, to treat substance abuse you have to know what is triggering the abuse or covering up the pain. A great leader understands that society has stigmatized individuals that are addicted to alcohol, drugs, and sex.  My experience is to show love as God has shown the world.  We are all one step away from something tragic happening in our life that can cause abusive behavior. To get the word out about my organization, I would advocate local, state, and government officials about the funding needed for individuals suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. Having roundtables with community citizens and leaders is the hands-on experience needed to hear the issues affecting the community. Thanks, Dr. Lear for an amazing educational learning experience. Reference: Piana, D. (2010). The nonprofit paradox. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 8(3), 23-24. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2063614471). CARMEN’S POST: The Nonprofit Paradox This week reading helped me to take a step back and look how I view not only the organization, but how I make an impact on staff as a leader. This was a great way to do a self-awareness and evaluate how one’s own views and behaviors affect decisions. This week made the course come to a whole. What I mean is being able to step back and appreciate everyone’s uniqueness. Thinking outside the box to avoid paradox. Piana (2010) provided a great insight on how sometimes we attempt to find many solutions to one problem when in reality we already have the solution at hand. Nonprofit Paradox occurs more than we can imagine I want to share a story as this occurred in my organization We are a mental health organization and help clients not only with basic needs but therapy to deal with anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues. One of our staff was going through tough time and was struggling with depression. We did not have a plan in place for our own staff. This was sad and it made us open our eyes. Here we are stating that we are one of the best organizations but did not offer the support that our staff needed This is what Nonprofit Paradox is talking about making change but not fixing the same problem you have behind the scene. 1. What implications does this have for staff and overall organizational effectiveness? It is difficult for an organization to function or be effective. Paradox threaten the culture, mission, and public image of the nonprofit as mention in the article For-profit business models in the third sector (n.d.). As Dr. Lear mention in this week’s guidance nonprofit paradox blinds individuals in which they are not able to see their mistakes. Some examples of nonprofit paradox are moral credentialing, parallel process and duality. All these are explanations as to why paradox occur and how mindfulness is not utilized due to feeling comfortable or blinded to see beyond.   2. As a leader, how would you first identify this issue? As leaders we need to sit back and assess our organization. Identify negative aspects and look where we can do better. As mention by Dr. Lear’s guidance this week, confronting the negative aspects is important. I feel that being able to identify it before it gets out of control is the major key. There are ways to identify issues by communicating with staff through humor or transparency. 3. What would you do to address it? As a leader I feel that effective communication is the key and transparency. I agree that at time with humor you can get a point across but also being non-defensive and to the point can help get the point across. I would also provide active listening to understand different point of view. As mention in Adams & Galanes, (2017) mindful communication allows to bridge differences, allows to be open to multiple perspectives, show a willingness to see the world form another standpoint, and shifts perspective if necessary (p. 142). This allow for change to occur with minimal issues. This also allows for accommodations, collaboration and compromises as ways to address different conflicts (Adams & Galanes, (2017). References: Adams, K., & Galanes, G. (2017). Communicating in groups: Application and skills (10th ed.) New York, NK: McGrraw-Hill. elSBN-13:9781259983283 Piana, D. (2010). The nonprofit paradox. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 8(3), 23-24. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2063614471). The nonprofit paradox: For-profit business models in the third sector. ICNL. (n.d.). https://www.icnl.org/resources/research/ijnl/the-nonprofit-paradox-for-profit-business-models-in-the-third-sector.