Working for a not for profit can be immensely rewarding and life-enhancing, but it’s important to be honest about the challenges too. That said, here are 10 surprising skills that’ll help you thrive at a not for profit.  It’s not all solar power and organic roses. In the real world, not for profits often lack important resources […]

Ah, networking… some people make it look so easy! They flit from person to person at events, all charm and wit, making the bubbly sweeter and the conversations richer. But what about the rest of us? How can we network effectively, when we’re less social butterfly and more… uh… antisocial moth? After attending a few […]

Sick of distraction, ‘busywork’ and a whole of lot emailing? You don’t need to quit your job to transform your work-life. Cal Newport’s concept of ‘deep work’ allows us to create a more meaningful, more satisfying, more fulfilling role in the job we have now.  Think about your average work-day. Does it include: Masses of emails? Definitely. ✔ Swathes […]

You’ve started a new job. You were excited to start but the reality is just, well, meh. What do you do? Say you’re going for a coffee, then make a break for it? Call your girlfriend in tears from a bathroom cubicle? Let’s have a look at your options. Give it a few weeks then […]

For some, setting goals is a piece of (organic, vegan) cake. But what if you don’t know what you want? If you’re having problems identifying your goals, Liz has five tried-and-true techniques for you: Outwardly, 2013 looked like a solid year. I was working for an awesome social enterprise, I was in a relationship with […]

We’ve all heard of 5 Year Plans, but how many people actually have one? If you’re looking for inspiration to set long-term goals, we have just the thing. Create a 70 Year Plan with Simon Jarvis and work towards sustainable fulfilment.  5 Year Plan? Pah!  Experience has shown I’m more likely to book a trip […]

Our digital devices are so dominant in our lives. We endlessly scan social media sites, constantly check emails, obsessively text and message – and in the process haul around serious digital baggage that wreaks havoc on our minds and bodies. There’s a pretty good way to tell whether taking the opportunity in the upcoming break […]

Figuring out what you are worth used to be a dark art. Thanks to the internet and ready access to salary surveys, you can be armed with the correct data to know what you are worth when negotiating a new job salary, or seeking a raise. Here are some resources for helping you assess your […]

One in five New Zealanders will experience mental illness this year.   That means that right now, you or someone in your workplace is likely to be affected. People drawn to purposeful work at not for profits are usually interested in contributing to a cause they believe in and are willing to invest in making […]

    How to cope with a new boss Your boss has left, and a new one is on the way. You might be grieving the loss of your old boss, or be grateful that the new ‘relationship’ brings new opportunities for you in the workplace. Naturally there’s nervousness, expectation, hope and possibly resentment….along with […]

So, you’ve got the job. You obviously made a great first impression on the people interviewing you, but how do you make a good impression when you turn up for day one at your new job? We asked two HR experts, Lucy Boomer,  the People and Culture Advisor for Greenpeace New Zealand, and Becca Harvey, the People […]

Being in a governance role on a board or steering committee is a great way to support the charity sector and give back to the community. It is also an ideal way to nurture your leadership skills. Driving a fast-growing charity or NGO engaged in groundbreaking social change work can be exciting. Good governance is […]

Guest post: Alanna Irving — “What is it that makes you a leader? Why is it you who often takes the lead?” This question was posed to us, a group of relatively young people at different points in our professional journeys, by our facilitator, Suze Wilson, at the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Rethinking Leadership hui. […]

There are a lot of great things about working less than 30 hours a week, as more than half a million part-time workers in New Zealand would tell you. After nearly a year as a full-time, first-time mum, it allowed me to transition back into the workforce gently, and now allows me to balance my […]

This week we have a guest Q&A with Erin Polazcuk, National Secretary at The New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (the PSA), the largest trade union in New Zealand with over 63,000 members. — What is PSA all about? PSA represents everyone from physiotherapists to DOC rangers; scientists to parliamentary cleaners; […]

After six years at university I left with a couple of degrees. Today, you can probably learn most of what I studied through a myriad of websites and apps from science, arts and commerce topics, for a tiny fraction of my student loan…. From using javascript, learning how to speak Español, finance skills and more. […]

Tips on taking care of yourself Doing good can be a tough job sometimes – so if you’re going to avoid burning out, you’ll need to take care of yourself. You might be supporting young people with addictions, former refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder, rehabilitating neglected animals, lobbying for urgent action on poverty or climate […]

Juggling workloads in not-for-profits can often feel overwhelming. We care passionately about the larger vision our work contributes to and it is very easy to overextend yourself. You know…skipping lunch breaks, working overtime, taking work home to lighten the load the next day. We’ve all done it.  Life in non-profit world is busy. Many organisations […]

My good buddy Amelia recently drew this picture. Judging by the response she got when she posted it on Facebook, it resonated with a lot of people with week-one back to work blues. So, how can we make life suck less, and for work to be less dumb after an outstanding holiday break? Here are […]

“The great thing about reading is that it broadens your life” –  George R.R. Martin (Author, Game of Thrones). While Game of Thrones might have added some colour (and gore) to my life, there are a whole load more books which have broadened my not for profit career.   Here is a compilation I’ve put […]